Feral Goats kicked out
Media release: 6 November 2008
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) goat management program has successfully removed over 10,000 feral goats from Culgoa National Park increasing the ecological health of the park.
NPWS Ranger, Bart Schiebaan said the NPWS contract goat musterers to remove goats within Culgoa National Park, 120km north of Brewarrina near Weilmoringle.
"The musterers removed over 10,000 feral goats during a six month period which is quite remarkable," said Mr Schiebaan.
"The musterers, from Queensland, employ their Kelpie and Border Collie dogs to help round up the feral animals within the park. The feral goats are then held in temporary yards before being trucked off the park."
Mr Schiebaan explained that feral goats are classified as a pest because they compete with native animals for food and shelter and can damage native vegetation including Eucalypt seedlings preventing forest re-growth.
"Goats on Culgoa National Park appear to particularly like the Bimble Box - Cypress Pine communities. This soft sand community provides good shade and protection for the goats where they have been grazing seedlings to ground level."
"Feral goats also have the potential to spread weeds and diseases and as goats are hard hoofed they cause soil compaction and erosion. So there are a myriad of reasons why goats are considered a pest."
"Culgoa National Park's goat musterers have been able to trap many of the goats within Gidgee - Brigalow forest communities after observing that goats use the forest communities as pathways to feed sites and water sources."
"The removal of feral goats has resulted in gradual improvement to the parks ecological integrity."
"Improved park integrity provides a better visitor experience which can have flowing benefits. The NPWS are also conducting research into feral goat grazing habits and movements to help provide further information for the management of feral goats."
Contact: Katie Ritchie