Police in Melbourne are appealing for the return of a black and white lamb that was stolen from animal park on the Mornington Peninsula.

Someone broke into The Big Goose animal park at Moorooduc in the early hours of Sunday morning and took the lamb.

Recently named following a competition at the park, Ralph is just four weeks old and needs to be bottle fed.

The lamb has a black face and ears, and a white spot on his right hoof.

Police said they hoped the person responsible “may be left feeling a little sheepish” and appealed for the lamb’s safe return.