I had seen Barren Volcano during the eruption of 1991. During that
episode lava had affected perhaps only 25% of the island surface. Most
animals including the goats, rats and crabs had moved into an
unaffected part of the island which was reasonably green despite the
name Barren and had plenty of ficus trees.

The present eruption so far has remained comfined to a relatively
small area. The lava flow has not reached the sea or anywhere near the
sea so far. The goats and other animals therefore would appear to have
ample living space.

Catching the goats might not be an easy task. To move on loosely
packed lava boulders and stones, one would have to be as sure-footed
as a goat. Much of the slope between the crater and the base is
covered with thick [several feet] of volcanic dust overgrown with
shrubs [now perhaps scorched]. Its a very treacherous journey as one
wrong step would dislodge a large chunk of dust causing the trekker to
loose his balance and perhaps fall. Shooting the goats will probably
be a more feasible alternative provided there are no protests.

There are no fresh water ponds on Barren. I have read about a fresh
water spring described in the early parts of the last century. Several
expeditions during the last 20 years failed to locate this.

Best wishes

Samir

On 6/7/05, Pankaj <pankaj@...> wrote:
> Am posting this on behalf of Guntram Meier
> thanks
> pankaj
>
> Dear All,
>
> I wonder if the existance of the feral goats on Barren Island would be drawn
in any future considerations on this island - what ever they might be designed
for.
> I personally guess that (without knowing the place but knowing similar
situations from elsewhere) the remaining goats are compressed on the not
affected area of the island now. If they are in deed considered a problem for
the fragile vegetation (and thus causing erosion and all the other follwoing
problems which everyone knows about) it might be a good chance to remove them
now completly once the situation is calm and safe to work there.
> Of course the goats will have spread by then across the island already again,
but shelter will be less now I guess and food rare. The latter fact however will
guarantee that they probably will even faster browse and wipe out any new
growing seeds and greens as they did before, and so give the vegetation on the
island a final blow perhaps (depending of course how much goats were killed in
the erruption and how much area is affected at all).
>
> Is anyone informed whether the freshwater ponds (I read about them somewhere I
vaguely recall) did survive the eruption or are filled with lava now ? Thanks
for any opinion on this or information regarding this thematic there.
>
> My best to all
>
> Guntram
> My best and many thanks
>
> Guntram
>
>
> ----------------
> Guntram G. Meier
> Senior Consultant / Invasive Animal Controller
> Member IUCN/SSC Rodent Specialist Group & EAZA Owl TAG
>
> InGrip-Consulting & Animal Control
> Strassmannstr. 46
> D - 10249 Berlin
> Germany
>
> Phone: +49 / 30 - 420 21 423
> Fax: +49 / 30 - 420 21 424
> Email: ggm@...
>
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>
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>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
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