New Zealand giant sheep and a dog that charm tourists (11 photos + 1 video)

In a small New Zealand town, charming woolly creatures and a guardian who protects them peacefully coexist.





We're not talking about real animals, but about adorable animal-shaped buildings that house a visitor center and a wool store.



Giant animals live in the small town of Tirau in New Zealand. A big ewe and a big ram, herded by an equally big dog, happily guard the highway that runs through the town of just under 800 people.





Big Dog houses the visitor centre (also known as the Big Dog Information Centre), while Big Ram houses a wool and craft shop in its belly. Both buildings were built in the 1990s, but the ewe came first. So when it came time to build the visitor centre, it was designed to match the existing building. Local craftsman Stephen Clothier made the giant head.



The latest member of the clan of amazing corrugated iron creatures is the Big Ram, completed in 2016.



You can find corrugated iron buildings and many other “big things” all over New Zealand. But in Tirau, this humble material has found its way into custom structures and sculptures. In addition to the dog, ram and sheep, there is also a cow with a cart, a shepherd by the church and a praying mantis.