The Region - News from July 7, 1985

A helicopter team sponsored by an animal rights organization has resumed efforts to rescue several hundred wild goats from San Clemente Island. Cleveland Amory, author and head of the Fund for Animals, said the operation is taking up where it left off in February when 870 of an estimated 1,200 to 1,500 goats were captured and returned to the mainland. San Clemente Island, about 60 miles west of San Diego, is owned by the Navy and used for bombing and shelling practice. The goats are believed to be descendants of domestic goats put on the island as much as 200 years ago by passing seamen. Amory said the rescue effort got off to a late start because participants had to be briefed by Navy officials on the probable location of unexploded ordnance on the island. Amory estimated there are 500 to 700 goats that need rescuing, and the Navy has set a July 26 for removing the goats.