Guest guest Posted March 19, 2002 Report Share Posted March 19, 2002 http://www.asahi.com/english/national/K2002031900510.html Tokyo to remove island's 500 goats March 19, 2002 The Asahi Shimbun Time is running out for the 500 wild goats living on a tiny deserted isle in the Izu island chain. The Tokyo town of Hachijo is planning to round up the feral ruminants that are eating up the plants and trees on the island and damaging nearby fishing grounds. The wild goats on Hachijo-Kojima are the offspring of only a dozen or so goats left behind when the last 91 islanders abandoned their home 33 years ago. The islet, with its 8.7-kilometer coastline, is located about 4 kilometers west of Hachijo-jima and its population of 9,300. It takes about 11 hours to traverse the 300 kilometers from central Tokyo to the tiny island. The island's goats, free to help themselves to the trees and plants there, have damaged the groves of mulberries and Japanese green alders. Because they have stripped the ground bare in places, some goats have even starved to death. The defoliated ground is also prone to landslides and rock slides, which in turn are damaging the rich fishing grounds of Ise-ebi spiny lobsters and tokobushi abalones. Last August, the town trapped 39 goats in nets and is planning to run another trial capture this month before embarking on full-scale operations after April. The town hopes to catch all 500 goats in two years, and 300 to 400 goats the first year. The goats will be taken to Hachijo-jima. Hachijo-Kojima used to be rich in vegetation, thanks in part to the seeds that washed ashore on driftwood. ``It may take time, but we want the island to recover its original vegetation,'' says a Hachijo town official. ``We hope to turn the island into a sanctuary for wild birds.'' (03/19) Sports - live college hoops coverage http://sports./ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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