22 Sep 2021

Irish project aiming to save critically-endangered goats

From Morning Report, 8:57 am on 22 September 2021

A unique conservation project is under way in Dublin aimed at serving two purposes - to prevent the spread of wildfires and to preserve the critically-endangered Old Irish Goats.

Dozens of the heritage goats from far-away County Mayo have been deployed to hills on the outskirts of Dublin to feast on dry gorse - which has sparked blazes in the area.

About 100 people applied to manage the herd of Old Irish Goats and the job fell to Melissa Jeuken.

She told Susie Ferguson she grew up herding goats - and has developed a strong bond with her team, in part due to a bucket of treats and her goat call.