Alicudi’s Goat Overpopulation Problem: How the Italian Island is Offering Free Adoptions in Exchange for Capturing Invading Animals

Small Italian island Alicudi, situated in the Aeolian Islands, offers visitors the chance to take home a goat for free. However, they must catch it themselves. With an area of 5.2 sq. km and 100 inhabitants, the island has become overrun with goats due to their rapid multiplication.

Introduced to the island about 20 years ago by a farmer who later released them, the goats have become a nuisance to residents, invading residential areas and destroying hedges. The regional government of Sicily has implemented a program that allows those interested in taking a goat home to apply by email and pay a fee of 16 euros. Successful applicants will have 15 days to remove the goats from the island after their application is approved by the mayor’s office.

The increase in the goat population on Alicudi has led to an imbalance between people and animals, causing problems for residents. The government’s initiative aims to reduce their numbers and minimize their impact on the local community. By allowing people to adopt goats, Alicudi hopes to restore its beauty and tranquility while preserving it for future generations.