Carlos Martins

When he talks about his goats, Carlos Martins' eyes shine like diamonds. The phenomenon happens frequently but is particularly noticeable when in direct contact with animals. "Isn’t she a pretty goat?" He asks as he brings one of them by the hand from the back of the stable. The question is rhetoric, the creator expects no response other than affirmative. But it is undoubtedly a beautiful and tender animal, especially as a young man. Carlos is dedicated to this autochthonous species - black goat of Montesinho - since leaving the army, 28 years ago. The breed was almost extinct, but thanks to the work of ANCRAS (National Association of Breeders of the Serrana Breed), there are now more than 1,300 specimens in the region. Only Carlos has 140 on his small property in Mós de Celas, a village in the municipality of Vinhais. "I got to have 200 but my life was bad. Someone put herbicide on the edge of the dirt road and a few ate it." Conclusion: there are many animals and not all have four legs.