FeralFeast! - Invasive Species DownUnder

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History of Goats in Australia

Goats

Goats (Capra hircus) arrived with the First Fleet in 1788 as they were a suitable food source for the first European settlers. They were small, ate most plants and provided the settlers with meat and milk.

Later the goats were released or escaped, and established feral herds in the Australian bush. Their population grew enormously when the settlers decided to control the Dingo population.

Later during the 19th century, sailors released many goats onto nearby islands as an emergency food supply.

Goats were intended to be released on Tasmania by Captain Cook in 1776. He was going to leave behind a bull and a cow, some sheep and goats, and two pigs (a boar and a sow). He only left the pigs behind, and they didn’t survive.

During late 1993, 16 dingoes were released on Townshend Island, Queensland. This was to control 1700 goats. By 1997, only 4, of the original 1700, remained. These were soon shot out by the defence department on the island. The dingoes are in the process of being removed from the island as their superior predatory skills are endangering the wildlife of its delicate ecosystem.

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