Wild goats take over Welsh town as coronavirus lockdown leaves streets empty

31 March 2020, 12:38

Llandudno has been overrun by wild goats
Llandudno has been overrun by wild goats. Picture: Andrew Stuart

By Kate Buck

A herd of wild goats have been defying government orders on socially distancing to invade a town in north Wales.

Llandudno usually has enough hustle and bustle to keep the animals in their usual grazing grounds in the surrounding countryside.

But as residents keep to their homes to help halt the spread of coronavirus, the cheeky creatures have been wandering further into the town than ever before.

Andrew Stuart has seemingly become the town's new goat correspondent and has been posting regular updates on their whereabouts.

He added he for one welcomes his new "goat overlords".

On Friday, he noticed the gang hanging around the town and realised they were not doing very well at adhering to the social distancing measures as they crowded around some of the presumably delicious hedges.

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Goats take over Welsh town during coronavirus lockdown

What do you think you're doing there?
What do you think you're doing there? Picture: Andrew Stuart
"Go on then, try and run me over"
"Go on then, try and run me over". Picture: PA

Andrew, who works for the Manchester Evening News said he noticed the goats having "a midnight feast" on hedges.

He tweeted: "They were probably going to run riot on the town, what with nobody being about due to the lockdown.

"I also wasn't sure if they were keeping the required two metres apart."

He said North Wales Police officers attended the scene in a patrol car, adding: "I'm sorry if the goats got arrested. But they were being very naughty."

Officers tried to coral the animals back to the countryside, but their efforts had little effect on the goat gang's attitude, and they simply walked back into town the following day to wreak yet more havoc.

The deserted streets have meant the goats have almost got free rein of the town
The deserted streets have meant the goats have almost got free rein of the town. Picture: Andrew Stuart
The cheeky creatures have grown bolder than ever with the absence of people
The cheeky creatures have grown bolder than ever with the absence of people. Picture: Andrew Stuart
They really no respect for the resident's homes
They really no respect for the resident's homes. Picture: PA

They have also taken to sleeping the night in comfort in the town's churchyard.

This morning they seem to have grown even bolder and have been filmed standing on the roads, completely blocking them off for the minimal traffic as others gather to see them for themselves.

Andrew said that although the Great Orme goats usually only leave their territory on the coastal headland to take refuge in the outskirts of the village in windy weather, "they're now going further than ever".

The Great Orme headland is home to a herd of around 200 wild goats, which are thought to be descended from a pair of Indian goats presented by the Shah of Persia to Queen Victoria in 1837.