Austrian inventor Rudolf Schaubach spent three years developing protective ‘chain mail’ for sheep to guard against wolf attacks. His design is a lightweight plastic net covered with sharp spikes, intended to discourage wolves from biting the animals.
The invention has faced criticism from sheep farmers, who warn that the mesh could tangle in the sheep’s wool, while wolves could target exposed areas such as the legs and head. Others call it too expensive for large flocks.
Schaubach says one sheep wore the net for several days without problems, but it has not been tested during an actual wolf attack.
He has stopped trials in Austria and is seeking other places to test it.