Hi Sean.
Arapawa Island is large (17,000 acres I believe)and the feral goats occupy a very small area. There are only approx 150 - 200 and they live in thick bush so cannot do much if any damage to local flora. The only protected native species is a snail. Feral pigs may be a potential problem for the snail but not the goats. Our RBST has just sent the following letter of support against the cull (click on the link at the end to read letter in full):- January 2 2008 ~ The Rare Breeds Survival Trust has written to the NZ Prime Minister to plead for the Arapawa goats Helicopters with hunters on board are set to shoot all the goats and their kids on Arapawa Island from Monday (see HYPERLINK "http://www.warmwell.com/aboutfmd08.html#arapawa"below). The RBST has written in dismay to Helen Clark: "....A breed with two centuries of development in an enclosed environment has rarity value which qualifies for protection as an historic breed under the Rio Convention on World Biodiversity...... DNA analysis of these animals was undertaken by D.P Sponenberg, DVM., PhD, Professor of Pathology and Genetics, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and the work was carried out at the University of Cordoba. The results support their unique genetic status and as such they deserve protection .... .." HYPERLINK "http://www.warmwell.com/rbstgoats.html"Read in full Cheers, Christine. No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.516 / Virus Database: 269.17.13/1206 - Release Date: 01/01/2008 12:09 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
