With Morocco’s sheep herds dwindling at an alarming rate, King Mohammed VI made a rare break with tradition by urging families to forego buying sheep to sacrifice during the upcoming Eid Al-Adha.

Eid al-Adha, to take place in June, commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son on God's command. Muslims mark the event by slaughtering sheep or goats. The meat is shared among family and donated to the poor.

In the first request in 29 years, he cited economic hardship and the climate crisis for dwindling herds and rising prices.

Herds have shrunk because of drought and dry pastures, so Moroccans are urged to abstain from slaughtering sheep.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has asked the citizens to abstain from slaughtering sheep on Eid al-Adha this year.According to Reuters, the king on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, announced refraining from traditional slaughter of sheep on Eid

With the nation's herd reduced by drought and prices rising due to inflation, King Mohammed VI has asked the public to refrain from slaughtering sheep. View on euronews

Sheep come running when Larbi El Ghazouani pours alfalfa and straw into their troughs twice a day. The 55-year-old farmer had counted on selling the bulk of his 130 sheep to Moroccans preparing for early June’s Eid al-Adha holiday,

King Mohammed VI is asking Moroccans not to slaughter sheep during the Feast of Sacrifice in early June. The Moroccan king is doing so because the livestock population has already shrunk considerably due to the severe drought Morocco is facing.