African Dwarf Goat

The dwarf goat is descended from the bezoar goat, which is the ancestor of more than 400 different breeds of goats. Of these, the African dwarf goat is the smallest.

The Bezoar goat was domesticated and domesticated in the Middle East and Turkey 8-9000 years ago.
However, populations of wild bezoar goats still exist in Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkey.
The goat is also known as the "poor man's cow" because it is very frugal and lives on low-energy food.

Its milk, meat and skin have made it a popular domestic animal in several countries.

• Distribution: Mainly found in the Middle East and Africa, but can be found as pets all over the world.
• Population: Not threatened
• Weight: Males: 30-35 kilos. Females: 20-25 kilos
• Height: Approximately 64 centimetres
• Mating season: Late summer to early winter. In warmer areas where the days are longer, it can mate all year round
• Sexually mature: Males from 6 months. Females from 1 year
• Gestation: 150-160 days
• Number of kids: 1-4 kids
• Diet: Omnivorous, but especially grasses, shrubs and herbaceous vegetation
• Zoo menu: Concentrate, fresh branches, hay and vegetables
• Lifespan: 10-15 years
• Latin Name: Capra hircus domestica 

Aalborg Zoo's goats - an experience for all senses

Most people probably associate zoos with exotic, endangered and perhaps dangerous animals that you can see but not touch. But Aalborg Zoo also has animals that are far more approachable than lions, tigers and large crocodiles, and they are an important contribution to making a visit to the zoo an experience for all the senses. The goats typically kid twice a year, usually in January and again in the summer six months later. The African dwarf goats are popular animals at the Zoo, and most visitors will stop by to say hello and give the sociable animals a pat or a cuddle

It starts with the goats

Our goats may be referred to as "petting goats", but their role at the Zoo goes far beyond being cute and cuddly. They have an important function in relation to the Zoo's purpose, as they help create bonds and arouse interest and understanding for the animals. With the goats, even very young children can have a great experience with the animals, and because you get so close to them, it also becomes a sensory experience. You can touch and feel, you can smell and you can hear them, especially when it's feeding time, and the good-natured goats don't mind if the smallest children get close and grab a bit of fur or a horn. The goats were born and raised here, so they are used to being around children and people in general.

Previously, visitors to the Zoo were allowed to feed the goats, which could cause some commotion and fighting over the best morsels, but now feeding is reserved for Zoo keepers to ensure the goats get the right food and nutrition they need. The goats also have areas both inside and outside where they can retreat if they need a break from interacting with guests. In this way, they also help teach children to respect the animals' needs and wishes.

A visit to the goats is also a good opportunity to talk about the Zoo's operations and teach children about the relationship between predators and prey. Many goats are born at the Zoo and some of them end up as food for the predators, and this is an important aspect to talk about, not least to the children. It can make for some really good conversations both in the goat farm and in the predator house, where you can experience seeing the goats in the predators' feed buckets, and fortunately there is a generally good understanding of this in Denmark, while in many other countries people are far more fearful of how nature is organised.