EVICTED: We've goat to move you off GKI

146 feral animals have been moved ashore during a muster on Great Keppel Island

ARE YOU KIDDING? Some of the feral goats removed from Great Keppel Island. Picture: Photo contributed ROK290716goats

THERE'S been no kidding around when it comes to management of feral goats on Great Keppel Island.

Although an operational plan for the muster was drafted in February, the animals weren't removed until this month to allow kids to be weaned from their mothers humanely.

The joint exercise between Livingstone Shire Council, Tower Holdings, Department of Natural Resources and Biosecurity Queensland saw 146 goats removed from the island over two weeks.

Patrice Brown, from environmental consultants CQG, said the remaining 80 would be monitored with annual population reviews.

"It's a win for the local residents, but it's also a win for the environment because it was getting quite destructive,” she said.

"This is the first activity that's happened on the island that's brought together the island residents.

"I think it was a really good community outcome.”

Earlier this month, a North Queensland council released four wild dogs onto Pelorus Island to kill feral goats.

The dogs were implanted with a time-activated poison.

Ms Brown said the Great Keppel Island muster was a "more humane method” of dealing with the pests.

"It's a more expensive exercise because you've got people and equipment involved,” she said.

"It was very difficult to muster them on horses and with dogs, we had to get out on foot to muster them and use a helicopter.”

However, Ms Brown said the number of feral goats on the island wasn't as bad as previously thought.

She said the majority of the goats had been taken to a Miles breeding farm, although some billy goats are destined for slaughter.

Livingstone Shire Council mayor Bill Ludwig said mustering contractors were given a helping hand by island residents, who provided a wealth of local knowledge.

"I also want to commend Biosecurity Queensland for their support in facilitating the process to ensure that we achieved a positive outcome for the Great Keppel Island environment,” he said.

Originally published as EVICTED: We've goat to move you off GKI