Great Keppel Island, located just off the Capricorn Coast of Queensland, has been living through an environmental emergency. Our invasive, non-native feral goat population is trampling the remnant ecosystem. In early 2023, the Queensland state government reacquired the leases for the island’s dilapidated resort. This led to fierce debates between residents over the urgent need for proper wildlife management. As you might expect, this has enraged local advocates, who, led by lifelong Edgemont resident Carl Svendsen, are now calling for the goats’ full release. That’s why, with an estimated population of over 1,000, these animals are wrecking native vegetation.
67-year-old Carl Svendsen has lived on Great Keppel Island his whole life. He passionately stresses the tremendous impact wild goats are having on the island’s ecosystem. For one, he says a culling approach won’t come close to working.
“They need to be removed completely, not culled down or anything like that because we will have the same problem in another 10 years.” – Carl Svendsen
The Goat Problem
Almost one hundred years ago, settlers released feral goats on Great Keppel Island to serve as a food supply. Their unchecked spread is wreaking serious environmental havoc. Svendsen explains that the resulting destruction by these animals can be seen all over the island.
“It’s a pretty major problem because it’s impacting on a lot of our delicate sand dunes,” he stated. He brought attention to the rapid decline of native plants as a shock. From hundreds, only one or two pieces of spinifex grass left today http://t.co/YGSOPFvDfD — Steve McJonas (@Steve_McJonas) November 20, 2013
Stuart Thomson, another island resident, is equally concerned. He calculates an upward trend of 800,000 goats each year, eventually contributing to a population of billions.
“When I first got here, there may have been about 500 to 600 goats, but I’d have to guess there would be 800 to 1,000 now,” – Stuart Thomson
Calls for Action
That’s why local advocacy groups like Conservation Voters of South Carolina and residents have been calling for action right away. Capricorn Conservation Council coordinator Sophie George said it was frustrating that state government was taking its time to respond.
“The help is just not coming fast enough,” she said. To effectively control the goat population, George echoed the importance of a collaborative effort to ensure that “take” still allows for hunting.
“What we would like to see is some delegation of funding and delegation of power over to Livingstone Shire Council and/or to the Woppaburra people and rangers to get the goats gone once and for all,” she added.
The Woppaburra rangers are already working alongside government agencies to protect their traditional sea country by managing pests and fire on Great Keppel Island. Their active involvement highlights the necessity of equipping those who truly hold local knowledge and authority with the tools to address this pressing ecological crisis.
Future Management Plans
Despite these challenges, we hope to have a definitive goat management plan for Great Keppel Island in place by late this year. Look for these changes to be implemented soon! Residents are hoping that this plan will lay out some concrete solutions to help bring stability back to the island’s ecosystem.
Most daytrippers visiting Great Keppel Island may not realize the environmental threats lurking among its picturesque white sandy beaches and lush green bushland. For the residents here, goats grazing in grassy medians has turned into a normal scene. This trend points to a much more serious issue that must be addressed immediately.
