4 baby Boer goats born at Covina High School can be met — and pet — at the LA Zoo

The Los Angeles Zoo has four new baby Boer goats ready to greet visitors, who can meet and pet them.

The four female Boer goat kids can be seen at the ranch area within the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo. Boer goats originated from South Africa, and their name comes from the Dutch word “boer,” which means “farmer.” Boer goats arrived in the United States in the early 1990s and quickly became popular for farming and livestock shows.

Guests can visit the four baby goats alongside the zoo’s Nigerian dwarf goats in the Winnick Family Children’s Zoo daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., except Thursdays, weather permitting.

“People love visiting the goats, and we are excited to expand the experience and watch our guests’ reactions,” Dominick Dorsa II, director of animal care for the L.A. Zoo, said in a statement. “It is enriching for both our guests and the animals, and the close encounters help foster empathy for wildlife and create meaningful connections to nature.”

The Boer goat kids were born six months ago at Covina High School as part of their Future Farmers of America program. Students cared for the goats’ mothers while they were pregnant and assisted with the care of the kids before they arrived at the zoo.

Angie Bacon, FAA advisor and agricultural science teacher at Covina High School, said their program started in 1948. The school remains the only FAA chapter in the San Gabriel Valley with around 200 participating students.

Bacon said the school is fortunate to have a Boer goat breeding program that gives students hands-on experience working with large livestock. She added that the program prepares students for careers in animal health and veterinary care.

“We are thrilled that these four (Boer) kids are at the L.A. Zoo as they expand the Covina High School FFA’s mission to educate the public about animals and the care they receive,” Bacon said in a statement.