A dramatic rescue operation was staged at Calderglen Country Park when a lamb got trapped behind a waterfall.
The Scottish SPCA Lanarkshire was alerted to the traumatised baby sheep at around 2.30pm on April 24 after she was spotted by a member of the public.
The frightened little lamb had travelled down a steep embankment and got stuck in a small cave behind the rushing water.
Animal rescue officers had to wade across the river and abseil down the waterfall to reach the uninjured livestock.
Scottish SPCA animal rescue officer Sarah Parker said: “When my colleague, inspector Jack Marshall, and I arrived we could see that the lamb had travelled down a steep embankment and somehow got into the cave.
“The water around the cave and small waterfall was very deep so it’s unlikely the youngster would have managed to get out unassisted.
“It was definitely a two-man job as navigating our way to the lamb was quite tricky due to her location.
“We had to wade across the river, as this was the quickest route. We both waded across to the lamb to check how we could access the area and see what equipment we needed.
“We returned to our vehicles, got kitted out and waded back to the lamb. Inspector Marshall attached himself to a tree with a rope and went down the small waterfall using the boulders to help him down.
“I made sure everything was secure and helped guide him down.
“Inspector Marshall then climbed back up, gave me the youngster and we very carefully waded back across the river and climbed the embankment.
“Once we made it to safety, we checked the lamb for any injuries.
“Thankfully, the young sheep was unharmed and, although nervous, didn’t appear to be hurt.”
She added: “There were no clues as to where she had come from, as she didn’t have any tags and the markings on her fleece were quite faded.
“My colleague inspector Marshall even went round the local farms but we were sadly unable to locate the owner.
“The lamb is now in the care of our Edinburgh and Lothians Animal Rescue and Rehoming Centre, who have named her Sam, until her owners can be traced.”
If anyone knows who Sam belongs to, they can contact the SSPCA animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”
