Metchosin firefighters rescue Nigerian dwarf goat Aphrodite from a three-metre cliff ledge

The Story

Metchosin firefighters rescued a Nigerian dwarf goat named Aphrodite from a ledge near a farm on LaBonne Road after the animal fell off the edge of a cliff near Matheson Lake.

The goat became trapped on the ledge in the evening before firefighters were called, and she was unable to climb back on her own, spending Sunday night on the ledge until rescue crews arrived.

In a technical rope-rescue operation, firefighters cleared broom and other debris to create a path of descent. Firefighter Michael Campbell was lowered down the three-metre cliff, attached a harness, and lifted the goat back to the top.

Metchosin Fire lead Jacob Lamb said the larger cliff side was about 18 metres, which he said left the goat a better chance of landing near the top edge.

Lamb also noted that Metchosin is an agricultural community and that crews are trained for animal rescue as well as people, adding that the department has responded to other animals in precarious situations before.

Metchosin Fire said members regularly train in technical rescue skills to be prepared when people or animals find themselves in difficult circumstances, calling the operation a “happy ending” for the goat.