Sabirah Bear & Indie Boots (A Story of Survival & Friendship)

The story of Sabirah Bear and Indie Boots began five years ago. One morning, while waiting for the school bus, we noticed a lone calf in the distance. He seemed completely out of place, especially since it wasn’t calving season. Concerned, we called the neighbouring farms to see if anyone had an unplanned, miracle calf! But as it turned out, he wasn’t a newborn at all. He was an 18-month-old bull—the same age as the 300-kilo cattle in the paddock with him.

The farm manager explained that his mother had abandoned him at birth, and he had never received vital nutrients such as colostrum, or any milk at all. The chances of survival were exceptionally low. Somehow, against all odds, he had survived. He had a choice: to give up or to fight for his life by bypassing the natural order and sustaining himself from day one on grass alone. This struggle had stunted his growth to an extreme degree. At 18 months old, he was not much bigger than our border collie.

Unlike the other bulls, he had an unusually woolly coat, a swollen potbelly, and thin, fragile, skinny legs. We watched him for over a week as the herd made its way to the water trough. His siblings, towering over him, would push him aside, denying him a place. But what we saw in him was an unbreakable spirit. He never gave up. Again and again, he would squeeze between their legs, a determined little outcast, ensuring he got just enough water to survive.

From our property, we often locked eyes with him across the way. His only companions were two emus, standing on either side of him as if he belonged with them. He would stare at us with his deep, soulful brown eyes, communicating without words—pleading, understanding, connecting. Concerned that his condition would deteriorate further, we called the farm manager. To our relief, he shared our admiration for the young bull’s tenacity. In all his years, he had never seen anything like it. Many farmers we’ve spoken to since have echoed the same sentiment. With the farm manager’s blessing, we took him under our care.

He was so small; he could fit in our arms. To ensure he didn’t get lost in the large paddock, we initially placed him in our dog pen. Each day, we took turns sitting with him for hours, earning his trust. Slowly, we introduced the vitamins and nutrients he had been deprived of for so long. Around this time, lambing season arrived. A neighbouring farmer reached out to let us know that one of his ewes had abandoned a twin lamb, as often happens. With the farm bustling and stretched thin, we offered to care for the orphaned lamb until he was strong enough to return to his flock.

Little did we know that by placing these two fragile creatures together, we would witness a friendship unlike any other. They became inseparable, mirroring each other as if they were the same species. They ate together, walked together, and slept side by side. They were not just companions; they were brothers.

We named the bull Sabirah Bear. Sabirah means "patient, persevering, steadfast." It embodies endurance, resilience, and inner strength—a perfect reflection of his unbreakable spirit and boundless heart. One look into his eyes, and you could see his soul shining through. The little lamb became Indie Boots, a name born from his independent nature—also a survivor—and his undeniable bossy streak. Their bond only deepened with time. In the heat of summer, Sabirah provided Indie Boots with shade; in the cold of winter, he shielded him from the wind and rain. Indie was his shadow, his constant companion. Their connection was so profound that separating them was unthinkable. And so, they remained—rescued, cherished, and forever part of our family.

For years, our family spent an hour each day hiking along the river’s edge, with Sabirah and Indie Boots following behind us, single file, along with three other hand-reared sheep. Sabirah would become so excited as we approached that he would gallop around the paddock like a joyful horse, unable to contain his enthusiasm.

We once believed Sabirah might stay small forever due to his difficult start in life. But with love and care, he grew into the magnificent animal he is today. Though his heart remains gentle, he no longer realizes his own strength. We no longer walk together as we once did, but Sabirah still shadows us along the fence line, eager for his daily chats, his big neck scratches, and his warm embraces.

And through it all, the bond between Sabirah Bear and Indie Boots endures—unwavering, unbreakable, and a joy to behold.