Bilberry Goats
Encyclopedia
The Bilberry goat is a unique breed of feral goat
which is believed to have lived in one herd on Bilberry Rock in Waterford City in the south of the Republic of Ireland
for hundreds of years.
Unlike any other breed found in Ireland
or Great Britain
, the Bilberry Herd is thought to be related to Pashmina
, Maltese
or Cashmere goat
s. Locals believe they came over with the Huguenots from France
over 300 years ago and have lived on Bilberry Rock ever since.
The goats are feared close to extinction; numbering only 7 in the year 2000 and 21 in 2005. A local charitable society of volunteers, The Bilberry Goat Heritage Trust was set up in 2000 to care for the animals. The herd continues to recover; numbering 42 in 2008. The herd is led by a dominant nanny. The goats are large, with shaggy coats and very large horns. Two members of the British Feral Goat Society, Dr.Shirley Goodyer and Dr. Ray Werner, together with Robert-Jan Prins, a breeder of Dutch Landrace
goats, reported that they were “amazed to see a primitive herd still living in the wild”, and that the goats are a “unique ancient breed.”
but was sold to a developer who wanted to build houses on the whole area. This would render the Bilberry Herd extinct and appeals were made sparking publicity. Zoning authorities who decided to reduce the goats area to 12.5 acres (50,585.8 m²). The Irish Wildlife Trust is actively involved in the campaign. The feral goat is not a protected species and Bilberry Rock is not a Natural Heritage Area
under the Wildlife Act 2000.
Feral goat
The feral goat is the domestic goat when it has become established in the wild. Feral goats occur in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Great Britain, Hawaii, the Galapagos and in many other parts of the world...
which is believed to have lived in one herd on Bilberry Rock in Waterford City in the south of the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
for hundreds of years.
Unlike any other breed found in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
or Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, the Bilberry Herd is thought to be related to Pashmina
Pashmina
Pashmina refers to a type of fine cashmere wool and the textiles made from it. The name comes from Pashmineh , made from Persian pashm . The wool comes from changthangi or pashmina goat, which is a special breed of goat indigenous to high altitudes of the Himalayas in Nepal, Pakistan and northern...
, Maltese
Maltese (goat)
The Maltese goat breed, as the name suggests, originates from the island of Malta. Today it has spread to many Mediterranean countries, but has been particularly selectively bred in Sicily and Southern Italy...
or Cashmere goat
Cashmere goat
A cashmere goat is any breed of goat that produces cashmere wool, the goat's fine soft downy winter undercoat, in commercial quality and quantity. This undercoat grows as the day length shortens and is associated with an outer coat of coarse hair, which is present all the year and is called guard...
s. Locals believe they came over with the Huguenots from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
over 300 years ago and have lived on Bilberry Rock ever since.
The goats are feared close to extinction; numbering only 7 in the year 2000 and 21 in 2005. A local charitable society of volunteers, The Bilberry Goat Heritage Trust was set up in 2000 to care for the animals. The herd continues to recover; numbering 42 in 2008. The herd is led by a dominant nanny. The goats are large, with shaggy coats and very large horns. Two members of the British Feral Goat Society, Dr.Shirley Goodyer and Dr. Ray Werner, together with Robert-Jan Prins, a breeder of Dutch Landrace
Dutch Landrace
The Dutch Landrace goat breed is one of the original breeds found in the Netherlands and, as such, is related to other northwest European landraces.-See also:*Danish Landrace Goat*Finnish Landrace Goat*Swedish Landrace Goat...
goats, reported that they were “amazed to see a primitive herd still living in the wild”, and that the goats are a “unique ancient breed.”
Conservation
The Bilberry Goat Trust was set up to protect these goats from extinction. The 14 acre (5.7 ha) piece of land where they graze used to be a commonageCommon land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
but was sold to a developer who wanted to build houses on the whole area. This would render the Bilberry Herd extinct and appeals were made sparking publicity. Zoning authorities who decided to reduce the goats area to 12.5 acres (50,585.8 m²). The Irish Wildlife Trust is actively involved in the campaign. The feral goat is not a protected species and Bilberry Rock is not a Natural Heritage Area
Natural Heritage Area
Natural Heritage Area is a conservation designation denoting a protected area in the Republic of Ireland. The Wildlife Act 2000 makes legal provision for the designation and protection of a national network of Natural Heritage Areas...
under the Wildlife Act 2000.
External links
- The Bilberry Goat Heritage Trust
- Bilberry Goats Blog, by The Bilberry Goats Heritage Trust on Blogspot