Goat Pepi
looked for new friends
The dwarf goat Pepi has lived until recently with a pony and with a lady goat together in the stable. Now her friends have passed away, leaving six-year-old Pepi behind.
His owners contacted the animal emergency center at Gut Aiderbichl, and since a few weeks Pepi has been a new addition to the goat pen at Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf.
Dwarf goats are the capital of the rural poor in Nigeria
Dwarf goats are variable in coat color: black, gray, brown, sometimes pied. They have a distinct good-natured character and are therefore often found in petting zoos. The dwarf goat is one of the economically most important goat breeds in 18 states of West and Central Africa. The animals are mainly kept for meat production and are mostly the only capital of the rural population. The African dwarf goat came to Europe and America by ship, on which other animals were fed with the goat.
Goats are sociable animals, but can also get depressed
By nature, goats are very social herd animals and can develop depression and disease if forced to live alone. Some also die from their loneliness.
Pepi was spared all this - because at Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf there are numerous conspecifics who get along very well with him and quickly accepted him into the herd.
In general, goats are curious and intelligent. We are miles away from the "stupid goat" even in the case of Pepi. Goats learn quickly, especially when it comes to a treat or a few strokes from the caregivers.
Pepi has made friends especially with Tati and Patrick. Betty and Moritz like Pepi as a new friend in the goat barn too.
Patrick likes to take Pepi with him on his forays to the horse stables. Goats have a special connection to horses and Patrick loves them more than anything. If you look for him, it can happen that he is standing next to a big horse and steals a few stalks of hay.
Pepi seems to be slowly coping with the loss of his deceased friends and is visibly happy about the new friendships. Patrick and his mom Tati will let him in on all the secrets of the farm - you can be sure of that.
In a few weeks, he will go to the big goat meadow next to wild boar Basti's enclosure. Then Pepi can climb to his heart's content, lie in the shade or in the sun - however he likes.
If you feel a tug on your bag, it's either a donkey or one of our many curious goats at the Gut Aiderbichl Animal Visitor Centre in Henndorf.
All animals know, except man, that the highest goal of life is joy.
~ Samuel Butler
