The Bilberry goat (Irish: Fiaghabhar na bhFraochán) is a breed of feral goat (Capra aegagrus hircus) which is believed to have lived in one herd on Bilberry Rock in Waterford City in the south of Ireland for hundreds of years.[1]
Bilberry goat at rest in the winter morning sun.
A Bilberry goat forages around in the morning
Unlike any other breed found in Ireland, the Bilberry herd is thought to be related to Pashmina, Maltese or Cashmere goats.[2] Locals believe they came over with the Huguenots from France over 300 years ago and have lived on Bilberry Rock ever since.[3]
The goats are feared close to extinction; numbering only 7 in the year 2000 and 21 in 2005.[2] A group of volunteers formed the Bilberry Goat Heritage Trust in 2000 to protect and support the herd. The population has continued to recover and reached 42 in 2008.[3][1][4] The herd is led by a dominant nanny. Bilberry 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,[5] reported that they were "amazed to see a primitive herd still living in the wild", and that the goats are a "unique ancient breed."
Example of 2009 housing development just beyond the habitat of the goats
The goats overlook the main roads and the river Suir
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 commonage 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.[6] Zoning authorities decided to reduce the goats' area to 12.5 acres (5.1 ha).[4] The Irish Wildlife Trust is actively involved in the campaign.[7][8] The feral goat is not a protected species and Bilberry Rock is not a Natural Heritage Area under the Wildlife Act 2000.
Notes
^ ab"Between a rock and a goat's place in Waterford". The Irish Times, August 2009.
Bilberry Goats Blog — by The Bilberry Goats Heritage Trust on Blogspot.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bilberry Goat.
February 01, 2023
bilberry, goat, irish, fiaghabhar, bhfraochán, breed, feral, goat, capra, aegagrus, hircus, which, believed, have, lived, herd, bilberry, rock, waterford, city, south, ireland, hundreds, years, rest, winter, morning, forages, around, morning, unlike, other, br. The Bilberry goat Irish Fiaghabhar na bhFraochan is a breed of feral goat Capra aegagrus hircus which is believed to have lived in one herd on Bilberry Rock in Waterford City in the south of Ireland for hundreds of years 1 Bilberry goat at rest in the winter morning sun A Bilberry goat forages around in the morning Unlike any other breed found in Ireland the Bilberry herd is thought to be related to Pashmina Maltese or Cashmere goats 2 Locals believe they came over with the Huguenots from France over 300 years ago and have lived on Bilberry Rock ever since 3 The goats are feared close to extinction numbering only 7 in the year 2000 and 21 in 2005 2 A group of volunteers formed the Bilberry Goat Heritage Trust in 2000 to protect and support the herd The population has continued to recover and reached 42 in 2008 3 1 4 The herd is led by a dominant nanny Bilberry 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 5 reported that they were amazed to see a primitive herd still living in the wild and that the goats are a unique ancient breed Contents 1 Conservation 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksConservation Edit Example of 2009 housing development just beyond the habitat of the goats The goats overlook the main roads and the river Suir 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 commonage 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 6 Zoning authorities decided to reduce the goats area to 12 5 acres 5 1 ha 4 The Irish Wildlife Trust is actively involved in the campaign 7 8 The feral goat is not a protected species and Bilberry Rock is not a Natural Heritage Area under the Wildlife Act 2000 Notes Edit a b Between a rock and a goat s place in Waterford The Irish Times August 2009 a b Ancient goats face extinction The Sunday Times May 2005 a b Bilberry Goat Heritage Trust Archived 2009 08 14 at the Wayback Machine local voluntary society responsible for the care of the herd a b Goats of Waterford Archived 2009 07 09 at the Wayback Machine Heritage Week run by Department of the Environment Community and Local Government and Failte Ireland The Goats of Bilberry Rock Waterford City Report The Bilberry Goat Heritage Trust 2002 Archived from the original on 14 August 2009 Retrieved 30 May 2009 No kidding Bilberry Rock goat herd is facing extinction Archived 2011 06 29 at the Wayback Machine Waterford News amp Star article preserved by Thomas Crosbie Holdings Bilberry goats may turn out to be a rare breed Archived 2011 06 29 at the Wayback Machine Waterford News amp Star article preserved by Thomas Crosbie Holdings Staggering response to save the goats petition Archived 2011 06 29 at the Wayback Machine Waterford News amp Star article preserved by Thomas Crosbie HoldingsReferences EditBilberry Goats of Waterford Bilberry Goats on RTE Radio 1External links EditThe Bilberry Goat Heritage Trust website Bilberry Goats Blog by The Bilberry Goats Heritage Trust on Blogspot Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bilberry Goat Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bilberry goat amp oldid 1046871727, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
