Where have all the cliff-dwelling Mt White goats gone?

IT’S the mystery that has goat to be solved. Just how many of the much-loved Mt White wild goats, which have been livin’ on the edge of the M1 on the Central Coast for years, are left?

There were plenty of the popular Mt White goats about on the clifftops alongside the M1 back in September 2014. Picture: Facebook

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IT’S the mystery that has goat to be solved. Just how many of the much-loved Mt White wild goats, which have been livin’ on the edge of the M1 for years, are left?

They have a big cult following (driven by Facebook page “Official Goats of Mt White Appreciation Society”), particularly among the Central Coast’s commuters, but there can be no kidding about their serious decline in numbers.

Some say it’s down to an alarming two (after dozens were sighted just three years ago), following the roadside death of one of the majestic creatures near the Mt White turn-off last month.

Others claim there are “heaps”, while a handful believe they have been completely wiped out.

The goat loving folk makes up chuckles based around the Capra genus. Many hearty, goaty lols. Picture: Facebook.

'Wrong way, go back': A Mt White goat in a danger zone in February last year. Picture: Facebook

Debate has raged on social media for weeks as passionate followers locked horns on how many are left. But what’s baaa-lievable?

“And then there were two. It’s been two for a few months,” Lyndall Hamling wrote on Facebook after one “fallen brother” was photographed on the side of the M1 on December 13.

An upset Kym Doherty said: “Nooooo. We need to introduce a female goat. There is only one left now.”

Jarred Jones gets up close and personal with one of the goats at Mt White nearly a year ago. Picture: Facebook

But a week later Joanna Tow claimed she drove past the Mt White exit and saw “two goats, which I guess confirms there were more than two when the recent one fell”.

“Phew! The goats will continue their watch over us,” Ms Tow gleefully wrote.

While Gabe Rivett said she saw two goats at 6.40am on January 5 “alive and well”, this reporter wanted to let fans know ‘we’ve goat your back’ and duly hit the road on Tuesday morning with photographer Mark Scott to investigate.

There were no goats in sight along the Mt White clifftops yesterday morning. Picture: Mark Scott

Workers at the Mt White inspection station and nearby cafe steered us to where they were last seen, on the clifftops near the Mt White exit.

One cafe worker said it had been “weeks” since she last goat a look at them. But one motorcyclist who cruises around the area regularly reckons there are still “heaps”.

We goat nothing: None of the furry little fellas could be found by the Express Advocate in an extensive search yesterday. Picture: Mark Scott

Without milking the story too much, Mark and I then drove to the western side of the M1, just near the Mt White exit, as temperatures were soaring into the mid-30s, and walked near and far in bushland and checked out the clifftops but we couldn’t goat a sighting of the locals’ feral friends.

It was enough to get up your goat, but we left the area feeling baaa-d and wondering how many of these long-time cliff-dwellers at Mt White were left.

Can you help solve the mystery? If so, call 4323 5000 or email [e-mail]

HISTORY OF THE MT WHITE GOATS

THE rich history of the Mt White feral goats can be traced back to a local hunter releasing them around Woy Woy years ago.

Central Coast animal tracker Jake Cassar this week told the Express Advocate: “There used to be literally hundreds of goats up around Woy Woy tip.

“What happened was a local hunter used to release goats around Woy Woy and even wild boars up at Blackwall Mountain and then go up there hunting them with his dogs.

“Hunters have done this in many areas with deer, goats and pigs to provide game in their local area.”

The man who started Facebook page “Official Goats of Mt White Appreciation Society” says he has lost track of their numbers.

Ryan Kestle started the page about three years ago when he was regularly commuting from the Coast to Sydney.

“I’ve since changed jobs and I work up north predominantly now,” he said. “So I haven’t seen the buggers for a year or so. I last heard that they’ve been in decline.”