First phase goat project sees recovery native vegetation

SABA—The first phase of the goat control project has produced tangible results. With the removal of
close to 1,300 wild goats, Saba’s nature is visibly recovering thanks to the work of the invasive species
hunters.
Nature areas that before the goat removal project were bare, are now green with grass growing and
young saplings starting to come up. From May to December last year, the hunters removed a total of
1,295 goats, mostly from remote areas, steep hillsides and cliffs. Several local goat owners have also
been very active in removing goats.
Five zones were tackled during the first phase: the Mount Scenery National Park, the area around the
waste management facility near Fort Bay, the Core Gut/Wiber Hole/High Cliff area near Old Booby Hill,
Parish Hill/Great Hill/The Gap near The Bottom, and the Wash Gut/Hole in the Corner area beyond Giles
Quarter.
The hunters started in the National Park because this is a protected area where the natural vegetation
was being threatened by the roaming goats, causing erosion and adversely affecting the park’s
biodiversity.
The National Park and most of the other zones that were for tackled for were the more remote areas
where the local hunters don’t visit as often or are considered more dangerous areas. This was done so
that the local hunters could continue hunting their own goats while the hunters were at work. 
The removing of the goats has alleviated the pressure on the villages, where goats had been eating
people’s gardens, creating a nuisance and posing a safety hazard on the roads. Removing the animals
near the waste management facility and Parish Hill helped to alleviate the problem of rocks coming
down on Fort Bay Road.
The Public Entity Saba is working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Food Quality
(LNV) on the planning for the second phase where the invasive species specialists will return to
complete the project. The Public Entity Saba is committed to this project to remove wild goats, while at
the same time encouraging responsible animal husbandry, and investing in reforestation and
agriculture.
As part of the incentive to promote responsible animal husbandry, fencing will again become available
for those owners who want to put their animals in pens or restore/enlarge their pens. The high cost of
feed and hay is being looked into for a structural and sustainable solution.
The price of food and hay has gone up a lot, causing a major financial burden on persons keeping goats
and other livestock in a responsible manner. Government said it was aware of the hardship that this
group faces. The matter of having a veterinarian on the island is also being looked at as there currently is
no permanent veterinarian on Saba.