Soay, the wild sheep that live on a remote Scottish island named Hirta in the North Atlantic, have been under scientific observation since 1985 as the Soay sheep have been shrinking in size and weight constantly.

Researchers hold climate change responsible for the shrinkage of the Soay Sheep.

According to researchers shorter winters aid smaller sheep to survive, resulting in this "paradoxical decrease in size".

Since 1985, the sheep have dwindled in size by five percent and their legs have been getting shorter and their body weight is on the decrease.

Lead researcher, Tim Coulson said that the island is like a natural laboratory and it provides ideal opportunity for research.

Price-equation, a formula designed by evolutionary theorist George Price to predict how a physical trait, such as body size, will change from one generation to the next, was used by the researchers.

The research team believes that the Soay sheep will shrink further. (dpa)