Goats on weed-clearing duty become unlikely Tokyo celebrities
Two goats deployed to clear overgrown grass near a Tokyo railway station have become social media stars.
TOKYO, Nov 6 — Two white goats named Nagi and Pokke, brought to central Tokyo by rail staff, have become online sensations, as crowds of commuters and residents flock to see the adorable creatures in a busy business district. The two goats, one-year-old male and two-year-old female, arrived last month at an empty lot near JR Yotsuya Station in Shinjuku.
East Japan Railway, or JR East, explained the move as an "eco-friendly way to remove weeds". The goats have become a major attraction for local schoolchildren, professionals taking lunch breaks, and social media, with photos of the animals garnering much attention. Tamae Noguchi, a 60-year-old employee, expressed her happiness in seeing the goats in the middle of the city, finding their energy-boosting presence uplifting.
University student Edward Asis, 38, from the Philippines, described the goats as "very cute" and praised the natural approach to managing overgrown grass. The trial began on October 9 and will continue until December, once the grass in the 900-square-metre vacant lot has been entirely eaten. JR East stated that compared to traditional methods like grass cutters and herbicides, using goat grazing not only enables continuous weed control but also reduces the environmental impact.
This is the first time such trials have been conducted inside Tokyo's circular Yamanote line, which is the central core of the city. In 2016, around 10 sheep were placed near Paris' major ring road to clear grass, despite public and animal welfare concerns over potential exposure to polluted air.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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