01-14-2014, 02:49 AM
Thank you Kelena, another post where I wish the forum software has a "Like" button.
In one of our Hawai'i plant guide books there are before and after pictures of goat foraging on a huge cliff on Kauai. The before picture is green and leafy. The after picture shows the entire cliff denuded and rocky. The goats essentially consumed everything. There is no question that introduced ungulates have destroyed enormous areas of native plant life, pushing many species much closer to extinction. With all respect to those who hunt them for their family's food, the closer we can get to eradication of these invasive animals the better the chances for survival of native plants, the la'au maoli.
In one of our Hawai'i plant guide books there are before and after pictures of goat foraging on a huge cliff on Kauai. The before picture is green and leafy. The after picture shows the entire cliff denuded and rocky. The goats essentially consumed everything. There is no question that introduced ungulates have destroyed enormous areas of native plant life, pushing many species much closer to extinction. With all respect to those who hunt them for their family's food, the closer we can get to eradication of these invasive animals the better the chances for survival of native plants, the la'au maoli.