SABA–Invasive species specialist Pete Haverson from England is currently in Saba to help with the drafting of a goat controlling plan.

Haverson, who arrived in Saba on Wednesday, September 11, and will stay on the island until Sunday, September 15, has been requested by the public entity Saba to assist with a solution for the many roaming goats that cause problems, including the destruction of people’s private property, erosion and damage to the island’s vulnerable nature and ecosystem.

Additionally, free-roaming goats are generally poorly taken care of by their owners, resulting in severe cases of animal suffering and neglect.

Haverson is meeting with different stakeholders such as goat-owners, the Executive and Island Councils, Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF), the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force KPCN and the local veterinarian.

Representatives of the public entity St. Eustatius are also in Saba to speak with Haverson and to meet with some of the stakeholders.

Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality LNV advisor Anne de Boer is also here. The LNV Ministry supports the drafting of a goat control plan for Saba.

Haverson and De Boer were in Bonaire before coming to Saba to look at the same problem and to find a solution for the roaming goats in Washington Slagbaai National Park and other areas of the island.

Haverson explained that his objective in visiting Saba was to discuss the issue of the free-ranging goats, to hear the views of the stakeholders and to get everyone’s input. Based on this information, he will draft a goat control plan based on the local situation. The public entity Saba is planning to implement the plan in 2020.

There are different sides to the goat issue. On the one hand there is the problem of the damage caused to nature and people’s property, and the fact that the goats contribute to erosion, but goats are also part of Saba’s culture and, for the goat-owners, selling the meat of the animals is a source of income.

The law states that goats must be tagged and kept in pens. Goat owners must also take care of their animals so they do not suffer. Haverson will personally visit several goat-owners at the place where they keep the animals to obtain an overall picture of the situation.

Haverson has been involved in conservation and managing invasive species for more than 15 years. He specialises in invasive bird control. He has been instrumental in removing goats from Redonda, a small island close to Antigua. He has worked on many islands around the world, designing biosecurity systems.

Aside from removing goats from Redonda, Haverson has recently assisted in the removal of goats from the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles.

Bron: Daily Herald