Behind Little Acorn

Updated May 16, 2025

Behind the snow-white little lamb with the wrinkly Merino nose—the one we know and love as Acorn—sit six days of precious life. And how he made it through the first is both a mystery and a miracle.

The lone survivor of a twin birth, his brother was pulled out lifeless by the farmer. Acorn’s tiny 2 kg body trembled and shook. If not for the sterling efforts of dear Hannah, a volunteer carer with Lamb Care Australia, his spirit—and his temperature—might never have climbed to anything that could sustain life.

But Acorn’s fight was far from over.

With the quantity and quality of his colostrum intake uncertain, bloody scours soon set in. But we here at the sanctuary are hope seekers—and that little twinkle in Acorn’s eye was all we needed to believe.

Aiding our mission were antibiotics, hydration and Acorn’s indomitable spirit. Oh—and his curious little habit of getting behind things.

With his tail wagging like a metronome and his tiny hooves always on the move, we’d find the wee chap anywhere. From curtains to cupboards, washing machines to wardrobes, Acorn’s adventurous spirit roamed.

And perhaps it’s that very spirit that served him best.

Because now, he’s not just on the right side of good health—he’s flourishing. And each day, he claims just a little more real estate in our hearts.

He sniffs our faces. He nibbles our fingers. He nestles into our laps. And then—he’s off again for another adventure.

Acorn’s dear mumma survived the birth, she was not surrendered with him. A tragic reminder that behind every orphaned lamb is a mother

Acorn finds power in the moment. And we find joy in his being. What else could love do?
Oh, what a delight it must be to be a wee lamb such as he.

But there is something else we must say.

Although Acorn’s dear mumma survived the birth, she was not surrendered with him. A tragic reminder that behind every orphaned lamb is a mother—left behind, unseen, and unheard. And sadly, some mummas don’t survive the birth at all. Though their lives matter too. Quietly. Profoundly. Entirely.

And so, while it is now only six days that sit behind little Acorn, we wish him many more ahead, as he heads off today for his next grand adventure—with our friends at Lamb Care Australia. We hear they have another young lamb in need of a true and adventurous woolly friend.

May he offer what was once offered to him: warmth, companionship and the quiet courage to keep going.

Because from little Acorns, big things grow.

And behind little Acorn, there is—always, always—all of our love.