​After nearly two months in limbo, the survivors of a cargo ship disaster in the Black Sea - 180 sheep out of more than 14,000 that were being transported – have arrived at a new home in the Romanian countryside.

They were to be slaughtered in Saudi Arabia but have been spared from being butchered, said Kuki Barbuceanu, president of the animal welfare organisation known as Arca.

“We didn’t save them to be eaten by somebody,” Mr Barbuceanu said on Friday, shortly after dropping them off at a farm in Peris, about 20 miles north of Bucharest.

The sheep - technically rams because they are all males – have had a rough time of it.

In late November, they were tightly packed into the Queen Hind, a cargo ship headed for Saudi Arabia. Shortly after its departure, the ship overturned.

RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 Show all 18 1 /18 RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 Storage centre workers in Bristol found a fox with his head stuck in the middle of an old tyre. Storage centre workers in Bristol found a fox with his head stuck in the middle of an old tyre on October 4 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A horse needed help after getting stuck in a cattle grid in Abertillery, Wales. A horse needed help after getting stuck in a cattle grid in Abertillery, Wales, on December 13 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A five-month-old's parents were horrified when they found a 1m-long python slithering around their daughter’s nursery in Tadworth, Surrey. A five-month-oldâs parents were horrified when they found a 1m-long python slithering around their daughterâs nursery in Tadworth, Surrey, on August 7 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 An embarrassed fox needed a helping hand after getting stuck in a tangle of ivy hanging from a garden fence in Soilhull, West Mids. An embarrassed fox needed a helping hand after getting stuck in a tangle of ivy hanging from a garden fence in Soilhull, West Mids, on October 17 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A baby corn snake was found by a member of staff abandoned in a takeaway tub in a McDonalds in Middleborough. A baby corn snake was found by a member of staff abandoned in a takeaway tub in McDonaldâs in Middleborough on July 6 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 Rolls-Royce staff were shell-shocked after finding a turtle wandering through their Technology and Logistics Centre in West Sussex. Rolls-Royce staff were shell-shocked after finding a turtle wandering through their Technology and Logistics Centre in West Sussex on July 2 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A woman had a surprise after opening her kitchen drawer to find a snake inside in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. A woman had a surprise after opening her kitchen drawer to find a snake inside in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, on 7 July 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A greedy squirrel got caught red-pawed with his hands in the cookie jar after getting trapped in a bird feed in Redditch, Worcestershire. A greedy squirrel got caught red-pawed with his hands in the cookie jar after getting trapped in a bird feed in Redditch, Worcestershire on July 30 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A woman enjoying a bath had a fright when she spotting a slow worm poking his head poking out of an air vent in Bristol. A woman enjoying a bath had a fright when she spotting a slow worm poking his head poking out of an air vent in Bristol on June 11 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A male roe deer found himself in a spot of bother when he got stuck in metal railings around St James Churchyard in Barlborough, Derbyshire. A male roe deer found himself in a spot of bother when he got stuck in metal railings around St Jamesâ Churchyard in Barlborough, Derbyshire, on April 29 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 An elderly cat used one of his nine lives – after getting his leg stuck in a washing machine door at a home in Tipton, West Midlands. An elderly cat used one of his nine lives - after getting his leg stuck in a washing machine door at a home in Tipton, West Midlands on December 18 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A woman was shocked to find a fox curled up in a wardrobe in her second-floor flat in Dagenham, London. A woman was shocked to find a fox curled up in a wardrobe in her second-floor flat in Dagenham, London, on December 14 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A walker found a sheep having a baaaaad day - with her head stuck fast in a wire fence in Barnstaple. A walker found a sheep having a baaaaad day - with her head stuck fast in a wire fence in Barnstaple on December 5 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A woman from South Croydon had a shock when she heard strange noises coming from the bins at the front of her home – and found a tiny fox cub inside. A woman from South Croydon had a shock when she heard strange noises coming from the bins at the front of her home - and found a tiny fox cub inside one on 22 May 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A young seal found herself in quite an unusual predicament – on top of a 50m-high sea cliff at Abercastle A young seal found herself in quite an unusual predicament - on top of a 50m-high sea cliff at Abercastle. September 29 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 A Cardiff taxi driver had an unexpected passenger on board after discovering a corn snake under the bonnet of a taxi. A Cardiff taxi driver had an unexpected passenger on board â after discovering a corn snake under the bonnet of a taxi. October 11 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 RSPCA and fire service teams were called to Bishop Auckland, County Durham, to rescue a ferret who got stuck in a waste pipe. RSPCA and fire service teams were called to Bishop Auckland, County Durham, on 9 April 2019 to rescue a ferret who got stuck in a waste pipe - at the top of a two-storey building! The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS RSPCA reveals most unusual rescue missions of 2019 An injured grey seal stumped RSPCA rescuers who were called to collect him - from the top of a 10ft high Second World War pillbox on Fraisthorpe Beach. An injured grey seal stumped RSPCA rescuers who were called to collect him - from the top of a 10ft high World War Two pillbox on Fraisthorpe Beach in Yorkshireâs East Riding on 26 February 2019. The RSPCA have released their funniest animal rescues from 2019, ranging from a fox stuck in a wheel to a seal on top of a 50m-high sea cliff! See SWNS story SWMDanimals. RSPCA officers never quite know what theyâre walking into from one job to the next. The charity - which rescues more than 110,000 animals every year - is often called out to shocking, and upsetting incidents of animal cruelty and neglect. But the RSPCAâs rescuers are also on the frontline when it comes to helping animals who find themselves in a spot of bother - and these can often be rather amusing. RSPCA/SWNS

All of the ship’s crew members were rescued but more than 14,000 sheep died. Most were trapped inside the ship and others were scattered throughout the bay, with their thick soggy fleece weighing them down.

Figuring out what to do with the survivors has been complicated and involved extensive negotiations with authorities, according to Four Paws, an international animal welfare organisation involved in the rescue.

The rams were living on the farm of the exporter, Mr Barbuceanu said. Because the exporter received insurance money for his losses, he was willing to turn the rams over to animal welfare organisations. But they needed a home.

Mr Barbuceanu contacted an acquaintance, who owns a horse farm in Peris, Romania, and agreed to host the animals. The owner does not particularly like sheep; he likes horses. Still, he was willing to help, Mr Barbuceanu said. How long the sheep will remain on the farm is unclear.

In the early stages of the rescue mission, some people offered to adopt the sheep.

“I hope they will remember and keep their wishes to have them,” Mr Barbuceanu said. “Otherwise we have to keep them till the end of their natural life.”

Given that most seem to be about a year old, that could mean tending to them for up to 10 more years.

What if someone wants to adopt them to eat them?

“No way. They cannot adopt,” Mr Barbuceanu said. Future guardians will be vetted for other suitability issues, such as financial stability, he added.

Daniel Rosca, owner of Via Transylvania Tours, said he thought that finding people to adopt the sheep might be a challenge. Mr Rosca said he thought it was “very cute” what the animal welfare groups were trying to do, adding: “But I don’t know. I wouldn’t adopt one.”

He was pessimistic because all the sheep are males. Romanian households and small farms are more likely to keep female sheep because they provide milk, which can be used for cheese, he said.

Nonetheless, the rams appeared to be in good spirits arriving at the farm on Friday, Mr Barbuceanu said. Several were limping, he said, but they will soon get X-rays.

They do have a couple of other steps before settling into their new life: first, de-worming, then castration.

“Put two rams together, they can fight and kill each other,” he said. “You can imagine how it will be with 180.”

Back in the port city of Constanta, authorities were still working on how to remove thousands of dead sheep from the harbour.

Martina Stephany, director of the Farm Animals and Nutrition department at Four Paws, said that the overturned ship highlighted the cruelties of the animal transportation business.

Around 3 million live animals are moved from European countries to other nations every year, Four Paws said. “Clearly, animals cannot be protected on such journeys,” Ms Stephany said in a statement.