Stromboli is at war with goats

Those in charge of Sicily have at last swung into action after a quarter of a century of inactivity to cleanse the tiny volcanic island of Stromboli in the Ionian Sea of its plague of goats.

There are well over 2,000 extremely agile, stubborn and aggressive, semi-wild goats on Stromboli (human population 500) whose active volcano is visible in the night sky from mainland Italy 30 miles away.

The Stromboli goats devour anything that is green and has roots and clamber into trees and onto the flat roofs of the houses to defecate and urinate. The islanders use their roofs to collect rainwater, their only source of fresh water. The goats even head butt their way inside houses and bars, and charge at people. It is a miracle that no one has been killed. In July, for instance, a herd of goats ne