HONOLULU, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- A Hawaiian farm family is asking the thieves who stole 23 goats to return them, alive.
Some of the goats the thieves left behind on the farm in Kahuku, on the northern coast of the island Oahu, were found bound and duct-taped, KHON-TV in Honolulu reported Monday.
Some of the purebred goats had been born only last week, farmer Keal Pontin said.
The goats are worth about $300 to $400 each, he said. Pontin placed his total loss at about $10,000.
The goat rustlers apparently dragged the animals down a hill, leaving a trail of duct tape and fur, Pontin said. Tire tracks led back to a highway.
Some of the goats were being raised for their milk, others for their meat.
"I'm pretty sure that they sold them for slaughter, which is sad considering that they were pregnant nannies and very friendly nannies at that," Pontin said.
Some of the goats were expecting babies this week, he said, so they would need special handling.
"We don't think its possible, but if we could get our nannies back, that would be the best circumstance," Pontin said.
Thieves also have hit other farms in the area, he added.
