Hundreds of goats were successfully removed from Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park last week.
The Department of Land and Natural Resources issued 14 permits for the removal of the goats, with each permit allowing for the removal of 20 to 50 goats per permit, according to West Hawaii Today.
In total, 458 goats were relocated from the park by the National Park Service and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife on Aug. 11.
The goat removal project had been in the works for months. The objective was to remove the animals because they were adversely impacting cultural and natural resources.
The National Park Service issued a press release that detailed their efforts.
“On Aug. 9, a team of wildlife specialists and fence builders from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park worked with resource management staff from the Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park, Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail and Puʻukohola National Historic Site to install a temporary wing fence to help contain and corral the goats into a long chute where they could divide the goats for distribution. The temporary chute was assembled along a service road just past the picnic area.
"At the end of the day on Aug. 10, staff from both parks began a soft drive to move the goats to the south side of the park, where the wing fence kept them contained overnight. Early the next morning, at the crack of dawn, staff from the four parks joined together and, after a safety briefing, the diverse crew began to slowly move the goats into the chute. By 7 a.m. the goats were in the chute awaiting pickup. The goats were kept cool and calm as they waited under the shade of old palm fronds placed over the chute.”
The invasive goats were destroying up to 400 acres of the 420-acre park, according to Big Island Times.
Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is a U.S. National Historical Park located in South Kona.