‘Serial goat thief’ at large on Hawaiian island
A spate of “kidnappings” has raised fears that a serial goat thief may be targeting cheese farms on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
In the latest incident, two goats disappeared from the Surfing Goat Dairy in the space of three days.
After somebody had opened the herd’s gate, farm co-owner Thomas Kafsack also found another animal wearing an unknown leash, he told the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
After appealing for information about the missing animals, Kafsack learnt of other cases of goats disappearing in the area. One neighbour said that three pregnant nanny goats had been taken while a customer reported the disappearance of a breeding buck.
“We are all a little bit depressed going through this here,” said Thomas Kafsack, who believes the thief may be setting up their own goat farm. “You have a lot of connection to those goats.”
Kafsack said the missing animals, called Choctaw and Dea, were French Alpine goats and were probably selected for their beauty and potential as milking goats.
Both have huge eyes and are very affectionate, he added. Each goat produces around $200 worth of cheese each week. Rearing replacements will take around 18 months.
A neighbouring farmer also reported seeing two suspicious men in the area at the weekend who left angrily after he refused to sell them fresh milk.
The farm is posting updates about the missing goats on a Facebook page.