Saba says fewer than 100 roaming goats remain after $2.6 million control project

THE BOTTOM – Around 8,750 free-roaming goats have been removed from Saba since hunting under the current goat control project began in 2021, with the government estimating that fewer than 100 now remain. The figures are part of an extensive response by the Executive Council to questions from political Party for Progress, Equality and Prosperity (PEP) about the costs, results and future of the controversial goat removal program.

PEP submitted its questions in July, asking for greater clarity about the establishment of the project, its effectiveness, expenditure of public funds, the involvement of outside contractors and the consequences for local goat owners and hunters. The party said the questions were intended to improve transparency and public understanding rather than criticize those involved in the program.

According to the Executive Council, the current project originated with a 2019 decision to remove roaming goats under Saba’s existing livestock legislation. It was subsequently incorporated into the Nature and Environment Policy Plan for the Caribbean Netherlands. Its ultimate objective is not merely to reduce the number of roaming goats, but to remove them completely.

The government argues that uncontrolled grazing contributes to erosion, damages vegetation and agriculture and ultimately affects Saba’s coral reefs through sediment runoff. It also links the program to animal welfare, saying free-roaming goats frequently lack adequate food, water and veterinary care.

8,750 goats removed

The scale of the operation has turned out to be considerably larger than originally anticipated. Before the project, the free-roaming population was estimated at around 5,000 animals. The government now acknowledges that this figure may have significantly underestimated the actual population.

Since hunting started in 2021, approximately 8,750 goats have been removed, including about 5,100 by local hunters. The government currently estimates that fewer than 100 remain. It cautions, however, that population figures are estimates rather than definitive counts and are based on methods including cameras, tracking goats, thermal-drone surveys and sightings.

The Executive Council says the final animals are particularly difficult to locate and therefore require considerably more effort and specialized hunting techniques.

The government also points to signs of ecological recovery. Its response says satellite measurements show a 33.7 percent increase in vegetation greenness and density when comparing 2017 with 2025, although it acknowledges that longer-term monitoring will be necessary to determine the project’s full ecological impact.

More than $2.2 million spent

PEP also sought detailed information about the financial side of the program. According to the Executive Council, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature has allocated a total of $2.61 million to the goat control project since 2019. The funding was earmarked for goat control and, according to the government, could not have been used for other purposes on Saba.

Approximately $2.23 million had been spent through the first half of 2026. The largest expenditure categories listed are $690,000 for external hunters and $600,000 for goat farming and meat handling. Another $275,000 was spent on the bounty period, $225,000 on project preparation and coordination, $220,000 on the local team and $215,000 on hunting equipment.

A remaining $383,575 is intended primarily for expanding and training Saba’s own animal control team and, where necessary, continued assistance from outside invasive-species specialists.

Local hunters received $65 for every goat removed during the bounty program, which ran from January 2022 until January 2025. Twelve hunters participated and almost $275,000 was paid in bounties. Some individual hunters received more than $50,000. The government says hunters could additionally retain income from the sale of the meat.

Disagreement with goat owners

The answers also provide more detail about disagreements surrounding the program. The Executive Council acknowledges concerns from local hunters and goat owners over what they regarded as loss of property, the impact on Saban traditions, retrieval of carcasses and animal welfare during culling.

According to the government, however, hunting teams have not encountered roaming goats that were tagged or registered and ownership therefore could not be established. It says owners would in any case not be entitled to compensation for illegally roaming animals under the island ordinance.

Following complaints about carcasses, additional local assistance was hired to retrieve animals where this could safely be done. The government also addressed concerns about the treatment of goats during culling, saying external hunters have been instructed and trained to minimize animal suffering.

Outside expertise remains an important part of project

PEP also questioned the use and procurement of outside contractors and specialists. The government says several different procedures were used, including open calls, requests for quotations and referrals from Dutch ministries and other organizations. It acknowledges that public tenders were not used in all cases, arguing that the specialized nature of invasive-species control made such tenders impractical in some instances.

The ongoing contract for invasive-species experts involved in hunting, advice and training had cost $261,869 at the time of the response. Earlier invasive-species expertise between 2019 and 2021 had an approximate contract value of $360,000. The Executive Council says contracts were internally reviewed and formally approved and that project expenditure is subject to financial reporting and audits.

Despite the sharp decline in the number of goats, the program is therefore not about to end. The Executive Council expects it could take at least another two years to find and remove the remaining animals, followed by another one to two years of monitoring to determine whether Saba is genuinely free of roaming goats.

The government warns that stopping before complete eradication could allow the population to recover rapidly, undoing both the ecological gains and the millions of dollars already invested.