They eat everything and turn dry walls into rubble: Goat plague on Capri

A growing population of goats on the Italian island of Capri is wreaking havoc on the island's delicate ecosystem, consuming vegetation and turning historic dry-stone walls into rubble. The issue has captured the attention of Naples' chief prosecutor, Aldo Policastro, who has described the situation as a problem requiring a solution.

On Monte Solaro, Capri's highest peak, the goats' impact is starkly visible. Reports indicate they have denuded shrubs, prevented young plants from growing, and caused dry-stone walls to crumble, with loose rocks posing a potential hazard. Policastro, known for his expertise in combating organized crime, has turned his focus to these "small criminals," emphasizing that ignoring the problem is not an option.

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Nobody wants to demonize these animals, but if their population grows so much that the ecological balance is endangered, a solution must be found.

"Nobody wants to demonize these animals," Policastro wrote, "but if their population grows so much that the ecological balance is endangered, a solution must be found." His concerns have resonated with local authorities. The mayor of Anacapri, the municipality responsible for Monte Solaro, has reportedly been attempting to manage the goat population for years.

Past efforts to address the problem, such as capturing the goats and relocating them to the mainland in 2023, were reportedly thwarted by animal rights activists who gathered thousands of signatures to prevent the animals' removal. The island, famous for its dramatic landscapes and the Faraglioni rock formations, faces a challenge in balancing tourism and conservation with the unchecked proliferation of its wild goat inhabitants.

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The problem to ignore is never a good choice.