With people locking themselves inside to avoid the spread of COVID-19, the day has finally come for the mountain goats to begin their takeover of the Welsh town Llandudno.
Videos and photographs of the horned goats roaming the street have gone viral across the internet, with many people offering praise to the fluffy new rulers of Llandudno. According to the BBC, the tribe consists of around 122 kashmiri goats who stay around Great Orme and only descend upon the village during poor weather.
“They are curious, goats are, and I think they are wondering what’s going on like everybody else,” town councilor Carol Marubbi told the BBC. Marubbi also wrote that Llandudno residents have been amused by the entertainment that their cloven-hoofed overlords have brought during the pandemic.
“There isn’t anyone else around so they probably decided they may as well take over,” she said.
Manchester News video producer (and goat correspondent, as noted in his Twitter bio) Andrew Stuart has posted many of the adorable photos on Twitter, providing his own commentary about the town’s new Bovidae residents.
“They know exactly what they’re doing. Have some lunch from a bush and then go for a lie down in the churchyard,” he wrote in one tweet.
Earlier in the Twitter thread, Stuart mentioned that he called the police when he first saw the goats, to let the authorities know about the uprising. “And they sent a patrol car down who turned on the big red lights. So, I’m sorry if the goats got arrested. But they were being very naughty. Also, close the gates behind you on the Orme,” he tweeted in another.
I think I just got a group of goats in Llandudno arrested.
Let me explain… first, I saw this from inside a dark pub (the one I live in currently). I thought I was seeing things. So I took some video: pic.twitter.com/RtxYG6htLC
— Andrew Stuart (@AndrewStuart) March 27, 2020
The goats have been spotted grazing on hedges throughout the town and a few residents have photographed them climbing on stone walls and even low roofs.
Naturally, all these goats have garnered some admirers. While people seek solace during self-isolation, the mountain goats have provided an adorable relief from the stresses and boredom of social-distancing. One Twitter user even painted one of the most iconic shots of a goat whom we assume is the leader. The Llandudno Goat Gang rejoices.
I haven’t painted at all since we were told to social distance, but yesterday…. it was this photo that made me pick up the paintbrush. Thank you Llandudno Goat Gang and @AndrewStuart for the goat content ðŸ pic.twitter.com/dFUEYQuqvB
— pey (@errroding) March 31, 2020
Others quipped about various photos of the goats, with one person commenting that one photo was the goats’ first album cover. (Unfortunately, the name “the Mountain Goats” is already taken.) Another wrote dialogue for the aforementioned leader, and yes, he’s saying just what we’re all thinking.
Unfortunately, folk rock’s poet laureate, John Darnielle of the band the Mountain Goats, has yet to weigh in on the matter on Twitter.
