King Mohammed VI of Morocco asked Moroccans on Wednesday to abstain from performing the rite of slaughtering sheep on Eid al-Adha this year due to a drop in the country’s herd following years of drought.

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.

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

Morocco officially canceled Eid Al Adha, the Islamic ritual sacrifice of cattle, due to challenges impacting Morocco's agriculture seasons

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,