Feral Goats

Feral goats are a significant issue in Australia, causing an estimated $25 million in losses to livestock farming each year, excluding their environmental and pasture degradation impacts. Their presence also threatens conservation values and biodiversity by damaging vegetation and competing with native species. This damage is especially severe on small islands, where the effects are most pronounced.

Despite the destruction they cause, feral goats are also a resource. The commercial exploitation of feral goats is a $29 million industry annually, with many pastoralists viewing the capture and sale of goats as an essential part of their business. Local eradication of goats is usually achievable only on small islands or isolated mainland pockets. However, in most areas, sustained management is required to keep populations under control. Effective management hinges on understanding the relationship between goat density and the extent of the damage they cause, so that benefits can be maximized in relation to the costs of control.

Feral goats are descendants of domestic goats introduced to Australia by early European settlers. While goats are found on all continents except Antarctica, their feral populations are most widespread in Australia, New Zealand, and small islands. In 1993, Australia had an estimated 2.6 million feral goats, but their numbers fluctuate due to dry conditions and management efforts.