Santa Barbara Zoo Condors - Barnyard Exhibit

 

San Clemente Island Goat

Habitat/Range: Goats were left on San Clemente Island in the late 1800s and became a part of ranching on the Channel Islands. They later became feral and destructive and grew in population until the U.S. Navy initiated a goat removal program in the 1980s to save native endangered wildlife.

Description: Fine-boned, deer-like, and very graceful; only slightly taller than dwarf goats. Most show a dark “buckskin” pattern; however, they display a wide variety of color variations ranging from all-brown to all-white. Impressive horns on the bucks sweep back and twist out; spreads can be over three feet wide.

Breeding: On the island, they had several breeding seasons per year. Does usually had twins, but often had single or triplet births. The size of the island goat population affected the birthrate. When goats were fewer, the birth rates increased and more births were triplets.

Diet: They were able to thrive on the plants available on the island. As there are no freshwater streams on the island, they relied on watershed seeps and pools that formed in canyons.

Status: The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) lists this breed of goat as “critical,” with fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 2,000 – “a heritage breed on the brink of extinction.” There are some large commercial breeders, though is the mostly breeders with smaller herds who are essential in saving this breed.

Fun Fact: These goats have excellent temperaments, are gentle, hardy and easily tamed.

The Zoo’s San Clemente Island Goats: The Zoo has four males: three that are “weathers,” (gelded); and, one buck that is a potential breeder. They arrived in March from a private breeder near Valencia, California.
 

 

Santa Barbara Zoo Condors - Barnyard Exhibit

 LINK: http://www.sbcondors.com/california-trails/barnyard/