An unusual incident has astonished residents and visitors of the Huelin district in Málaga: two mountain goats, typically native to the Montes de Málaga, made a surprising excursion to San Andrés Beach. The animals leisurely strolled along the coast, near the popular Rocamar beach bar, enjoying the sunny weather under the curious gazes of locals and tourists. After their brief beach outing, the goats continued their journey and entered the city’s port.
Swift Response from Authorities to the Goat Outing
To ensure control over the animal duo, officials from the Environment Department of the Junta de Andalucía and members of the local police were immediately on site. The local television station 101 TV Málaga managed to film the two goats just a few meters from the shore, capturing this extraordinary moment. The swift response of the authorities demonstrates the seriousness with which such unforeseen wildlife encounters in urban areas are handled.
🐐🔴 La Policía intenta sacar a una pareja de cabras del chiringuito Rocamar del Paseo Marítimo Antonio Machado, en Málaga capital.
— 101TV Málaga (@101tvMalaga) June 4, 2025
📲 Toda la información en https://t.co/XrOoC7il3m#Cabras #Málaga #Animales pic.twitter.com/AWPwUrBb1P
Wildlife in Málaga: A Recurring Phenomenon
The visit of the mountain goats is not an isolated incident. Again and again, wild animals are sighted in Málaga’s urban environments. As early as March 18, local media reported on herds of wild boars frequenting the Miramar shopping center in Fuengirola in search of food. Although these animals are generally not aggressive, they pose an increasing challenge for residents, especially in areas closest to the Montes de Málaga. This phenomenon underlines the need for strategies for the coexistence of humans and wildlife in densely populated regions.
Málaga’s Strategy Against Wildlife Encounters
The City Council of Málaga has already announced supplementary measures to reduce the presence of wild boars in urban areas such as Ciudad Jardín and Churriana, which border forested areas, starting in early 2025. By the end of 2024, the Málaga City Council had already created a network of water holes to prevent the animals from approaching the city by allowing them to hydrate themselves without having to descend into the stream beds.
A new measure is planned for 2025: the use of deterrents such as smells or sounds that are unpleasant to the animals, as stated by the City Council in a press release. At the same time, the Consistorium strongly urges citizens not to feed these animals and reminds them that disposing of waste outside the designated containers is strictly prohibited. Should these preventive and deterrent measures prove insufficient to control the populations, further measures such as the application of anesthetics for population control would again be considered.
