Wild Goats and Donkeys by Kona

[OpenD]

This is the problem with invasive species... they crowd out or otherwise endanger native species by competing for ecological niche. In this case the palila, a beautiful native honeycreeper with a golden head and white body, lives primarily high on the western slopes of Mauna Kea in stands of māmane trees, which are a primary food source both for their seeds and for the caterpillars that grow on them. But the non-native feral goats and sheep eat the māmane.

And unfortunately, helicopter hunting is the only practical way to eliminate the animals. But I don't know if this is going to help anytime soon, because I don't know where the funds are going to come from.

It seems funny to me that when that helicopter pilot who transported axis deer to the Big Island agreed to a plea bargain that included 500 hours of flying sharpshooters in his chopper to eradicate the herd that ensued, nobody mentioned that there was a county ban on helicopter hunting.

On the other hand, commercial hunting websites have been pitching helicopter hunting in Hawai'i all along.

[CyberCity]

Just posted today on Hawaii News Now:

HONOLULU (AP) - A federal court order is allowing Hawaii officials to resume aerial hunting of feral sheep and goats in an effort to protect a critically endangered bird found only in certain parts of Mauna Kea.

Earthjustice hails the order issued earlier this week as crucial to the palila's survival.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources suspended hunting the non-native animals after a Hawaii County ordinance was passed with strong community support to ban hunting from helicopters or airplanes.

The ordinance conflicts with previous court orders for the state to eradicate the animals that ravage the forest were the native birds live.

The bird is a Hawaiian honeycreeper whose population has declined 66% in the past decade, with fewer than 2,200 left.

From the San Francisco Chronicle

State workers or contractors eradicating feral sheep and goats in an effort to protect an endangered bird found only in certain parts of Mauna Kea can't be prosecuted under a county ordinance banning aerial hunting, a federal court ruled earlier this week.

The next hunt is planned for April 22 to 25, department Chairman William Aila said.

[OpenD]

So, big luau to be planned for the weekend of the 27th, do you suppose?

[CyberCity]

Yes, for state workers, contractors, and friends.

[CyberCity]

From Kiholo Bay history:
"1922: Some 15,000 goats driven down to Kiholo to eradicate them from mauka ranch lands."

Seems that goats have been having population explosions here for the past 100 years!