KRALENDIJK - No more goats will be culled in Washington Slagbaai National Park for the time being. The Public Entity Bonaire and STINAPA have agreed to first explore alternative ways to reduce the number of goats in the park. This is according to deputy Dennis Martinus.
"We have agreed to temporarily stop shooting goats," says Martinus about a meeting the board held with STINAPA. According to him, the next step is to look at how the traditional method of removing goats from the park can be continued.
The deputy emphasises that the goal of reducing the number of goats in the nature reserve remains unchanged. "We want to stop the shooting first, and then we will work together with STINAPA to find a solution: how can we ensure the park has as few goats as possible?"
No more shooting
When asked whether shooting is still taking place at this moment, Martinus says this is not the case. "The agreement with STINAPA is that they will stop shooting for an indefinite period." He clarifies that this is a temporary halt, until there is greater clarity on an alternative approach.
An important consideration for the board is that goats removed from the park should be put to use as much as possible. During the meeting, attention was also drawn to the practical challenges surrounding the processing of meat from animals shot inside the park.
A kind of pet
Elvis Tjin Asjoe says the starting point remains that as many goats as possible should be removed from the park. "Get as many out of the park as possible, but also make use of them," he says. According to him, efforts should be made to remove animals from the park alive. If that proves impossible, culling could ultimately still be an option, he says, but only "in a way that makes use of the meat."
Tjin Asjoe says that public sentiment surrounding the culling of goats is also a factor. "Goats have become a kind of pet," he says. According to him, this makes the issue a sensitive one on Bonaire.
Exactly how the new approach will take shape has not yet been decided. The board and STINAPA still need to make further agreements on the matter.
STINAPA director Melissa van Hoorn was asked for comment, but indicated that she is currently unable to elaborate on the story.
