JOHANNESBURG - He’s talented and artistic, but now Baanksy the sheep is missing
A reward of R1.2-million has been offered for the safe return of the 2.5-year-old sheep known for his painting talents.
He was last seen on the evening of 1 February.
According to Joanne Lesfon, founder of Farm Sanctuary SA, authorities and private investigators are actively searching for Baanksy.
Lesfon suspects that Baanksy may have been taken as part of a malicious act or a domestic dispute as there were no signs of a break-in at the sanctuary.
"It does seem like it is a malicious act, because why Baanksy?
"We had sheep on the property, and we have goats, pigs and chickens. Why that sheep?” Lesfon asked.
Inspired by a famous painting pig, Baanksy began his own art career two months ago and has already sold 20 paintings, with some fetching up to R400,000.
"He’s the true original. His life has value, and he is part of our extended family at the Farm Sanctuary," said Lesfon.
“We put up a reward to wake people up and help them understand that we take this seriously. This is not just a sheep, and we cannot replace this sheep" he said.
- by Ntandoyenkosi Kubheka