King Puck goat has been released from cage at Puck Fair

A wild goat has been taken down from his elevated cage above the Kerry town of Killorglin due to "unprecedented hot weather".

The animal had been scheduled to stay in the cage until Friday, and there had been concerns about his safety due to the rising temperatures. Speaking on RTÉ's Liveline earlier this week, spokesperson for the fair Declan Falvey insisted that the goat was well cared for, and that he'd be brought down from the cage if needed. He also said that the cage would be equipped with a fan so the animal could remain cool. Today, a statement shared on Instagram confirmed the goat has been taken down from the cage, following a vet check up this morning (11th). The vet decided it was too hot for the goat to remain suspended in its cage, and the animal is now resting in the shade. The statement said:

Due to unprecedented spells of hot, sunny weather, King Puck was removed from the top of the stand this morning and placed in the shade with a constant supply of cold water and food, and is receiving hourly vet check-ups that continue to show that the goat has a good bill of health.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ChHy6tWNZyY/ According to RTÉ it is likely the goat may be placed back in the cage once temperatures ease, but that decision will be made later. The suspending of a wild goat in a cage above the festivities at Killorglin's annual Puck Fair has been a tradition for at least 400 years. Header image via Shutterstock READ NEXT: Ultra cheap Ryanair flights may be a thing of the past, says O'Leary