One of the most well known statistics regarding New Zealand is the sheep to person ratio. After all, as any true travel historian knows, New Zealand was once covered in sheep from stem to stern. Sheep roamed the paddocks, highways and byways of this great nation with impunity. But are they now under threat?

Back in the good old 80′s we knew where we were. There were 20 sheep for every person. Every New Zealander had a cavalcade of sheep which could be called to their aid at any time. It was the golden heyday of sheep. Many New Zealanders thought it would last forever, but since that time the sheep have been in decline.

In 2006, according to the Department of Sustainable Development, the sheep to person ratio fell to a low 10 sheep per person. Just 10.

And now, today? I did a little research of my own and discovered that the horrifying trend continues.

Here are the (scientific) calculations:

33.9 million sheep

divided by

4.3 million people.

equals

Just 7.8 sheep per person.

7.8 sheep. Not even enough for a cricket team.

A well worn traveler who has been yelled at by airport security in three continents and lost money in taxis in too many countries to count, Alexandra has been traveling independently since her parents cast her offshore at the age of 16 with one phrase in German to guide herself by, “Ich habe den kase genommen”. (I have taken the cheese.) Having taken up writing to sustain life (and buy the odd ticket home when unintentionally becoming stranded in unfriendly lands), her writings now appear in a myriad of unlikely locations, including this one.

For more of Alexandra’s writing visit http://www.monkeycorporate.com