International fight to save rare Marlborough goats

An international effort is under way to save rare goats marked for death on an island in the Marlborough Sounds.

Rare-breed enthusiasts from New Zealand, the United States and the United Kingdom have joined forces to raise money to rescue some of the Arapawa goats before a cull on Arapawa Island.

The goats are believed to have descended from a few left on the island by Captain Cook in 1773 and 1777 and to be a unique species. However, the Department of Conservation says the animals are ravaging unique plant species on the island and their numbers need to be controlled.