A reward of R1.2 million has been offered for the return of the world’s first painting sheep — BAAnksy — one month after her disappearance.
This is in addition to other ongoing forms of investigation, says Joanne Lefson, Farm Sanctuary SA owner, who remains “optimistic” about her recovery.
BAAnksy’s artworks are sold for up to R55 000, making her an “animal of value”, as described by Colonel Frederik Rossouw of Franschhoek South African Police Services following her disappearance. PHOTO: Kiara Wales
State of investigations
Following BAAnksy’s disappearance on 1 February, Lefson hired both private investigators and ‘animal communicators,’ who said that they believed the sheep to be alive.
Colonel Frederik Rossouw of Franschhoek police station confirmed that a case of stock theft was filed shortly after, and that the South African Police Services (SAPS) was working in coordination with the investigators hired.
However, he said that, speaking from experience, recovery of stolen stock after a month is unlikely, and that “if the value was known by [the kidnappers], then […] they would have gone for the reward”.
Joanne Lefson, owner of Farm Sanctuary SA, has put out a R1.2 million reward in the hopes of BAAnksy’s recovery. “Until I hear otherwise, I will believe that BAAnksy is still alive and that [the farm] will get her back,” said Lefson. PHOTO: Kiara Wales
Prodigy gone astray
Named after Banksy, the British street artist, ‘BAAnksy’ the sheep learned to paint from ‘Pigcasso,’ the farm’s original painting pig, and has since produced artworks valued at an average of R35 000.
This is according to Lefson, who is hoping that the R1.2 million reward will aid in the return of “the sanctuary’s prodigy”.
Courtney Bruintjies, Farm Sanctuary SA manager, said she is unsure of what results the reward will yield due to its strict conditions.
“The sheep has to be alive to get the reward, but you also have to bring forth the perpetrators, and who is going to risk that?” said Bruintjies.
BAAnksy was last seen on the evening of 1 February, said Courtney Bruintjies, Farm Sanctuary SA’s manager. PHOTO: Kiara Wales
An inside job?
Bruintjies said that she found the painting sheep’s disappearance in particular to be “suspicious”.
Locals do not necessarily know about BAAnksy, she said. “Most of the guests are from Europe.”
Lefson said that she is “hoping that it was an inside job” as it would mean BAAnksy is “most likely alive and being held somewhere”.
The chance of an inside job “cannot be ruled out completely”, said Bruintjies. However, polygraph tests conducted on the farm’s staff yielded negative results, according to Lefson.
Leads pointing to an inside job have so far resulted in a “dead end”, said Rossouw.