'Take Your Catch For Free', An Italian Island's Solution For Their Goat Problem
100 people and 600 goats -- this is the population of Alicudi, a tiny Italian island in Sicily's Aeolian archipelago. The island which has a total area of 5.2 km has been dealing with an overpopulation of wild goats for some time now.
To deal with this unusual crisis, local authorities have come up with an out-of-the-box solution.?
Adopt a goat
The mayor of Alicudi Riccardo Gullo has launched an "adopt-a-goat" program where anyone who can catch the goats can take them home for free, no matter how many.
All that people have to do is to send an email request to the local government and pay a $17 (Rs 1400) "stamp fee".
In return, they can take as many goats as they wish, as long as they transport them off the island within 15 days of approval.
Free to do whatever with the goat
"Anyone can make a request for a goat, it doesn't have to be a farmer, and there are no restrictions on numbers," Gullo told The Guardian.
While those taking the goas, away are free to do whatever they want with the animals Gullo said "Ideally, we would like to see people try to domesticate the animals rather than eat them."
To keep goat numbers under check
He said the scheme is currently available until April 10, but he will extend the deadline until the goat population is back down to a more manageable number.
And the offer seems to be working as Gullo said he has received interest from dozens of people including a farmer from the nearby island of Vulcano, who produces goat cheese, since it was announced.
How goats ended up in?Alicudi
Goats were introduced on the tiny island only around 20 years ago when they were brought by someone who intended to breed them. But some of them managed to escape and became wild. The feral goat population soon exploded leading to the current crisis.
For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit?Indiatimes News.
