Judas goat

Under a Judas goat is defined as a tracking device equipped with a goat that is used for the detection of feral goats. With a flashy color marking on the skin and the horns of the animal that can be distinguished from the other animals. The name is inspired by the Apostle Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus of Nazareth should have.

Origin

Several of the Galapagos Islands and goats were introduced by emigrants. These are some wild and have increased massively by missing predators. There is talk that destroy by massive herbivory the livelihood of the native, endemic and worth protecting herbivores up to 400,000 wild goats. In the context of conservation measures, these goats were first fired from a helicopter. However, this was only effective as long as there were whole herds of goats. Individual surviving animals, who retreated into the undergrowth and were thus protected against the view from above, could not be killed.

Since the partly difficult terrain also designed a ferreting for hunting from the ground very difficult, goats were used, which are equipped with radio collars. A striking color marking of these animals prevents them to be confused with the hunting animals. These expert goats seek the company of their wild conspecifics and betray their whereabouts. The feral goats can be killed by hunters. The Judas goat then search again conspecifics and start again their unintentional treacherous work.

Similarly, the procedure to Tasmania with foxes that there were no natural occurrence and also their prevalence represents a threat to the native marsupials. Again, one speaks of Judas foxes.

According to other sources Judas goats are those which are used by shepherds as leaders of a herd so that they lead them to the slaughterhouse. Here is the flock. The Judas goat is, however, rewarded with the freedom and may lead to the next herd to death.