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Goat on rock (symbolic image): The animals invade houses and eat everything they can find
Photo: Mirco Vianello / 500px / Getty Images / 500px Plus
There are simply too many: space is limited on the small Italian island of Alicudi. So literally. Around 100 people live here, with them usually around 100 goats. It's just that the animals' reproductive instinct was apparently underestimated.
There are now said to be around 600 goats living on the island. Too many, as Mayor Riccardo Gullo told the US broadcaster CNN. They invade houses and eat everything they can find in public parks and private gardens. The goats should go. At least most of them. For a long time they didn't have an idea to solve the problem on the Aeolian island. Until now.
Gullo has called for goat adoption. Everyone is invited to pick up a copy or even copies. You don't need any proof that you know anything about breeding or keeping animals. All you need is a boat to get the animals off the island, Gullo said. And if in doubt, be patient, because the animals have to be caught themselves. Other media also report on it.
Those interested in up to 50 goats can submit an application to the municipality by April 10, send it by email to the authority and pay a stamp duty of 16 euros. They should then have 15 days to capture the animals and bring them off the island. It doesn't seem that easy, as the rocky island has a large volcanic cone.
A few are allowed to stay
The mayor has already announced that they want to extend the deadline until almost all the goats have found a new home or their sanctuary. According to Gullo, it would be welcome if the animals were not slaughtered. However, the intentions of the buyers will not be examined closely.
A few goats should stay. They are actually part of the tourist attraction of the volcanic island and have become a kind of landmark since they were brought to the island by a farmer around 20 years ago.
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