Feral Goat

Capra hircus is an introduced domestic goat living wild in many parts of New Zealand. It differs from chamois and tahr through highly variable coat colour and domestic-type horns and markings. Feral goats may be black, white, brown or patterned, with backward-curving horns in both sexes. Males often carry a beard and strong odour.

Scattered populations occur on both main islands and some smaller islands. They use forest margins, scrub, cliffs and rough farmland. They browse shrubs, seedlings and tree foliage and also graze. Herds are mobile and can strip vegetation from accessible slopes.

New Zealand treats feral goats as Introduced. The Coromandel Peninsula and outer Marlborough Sounds have wild goats, though sightings are incidental.