THE BOTTOM – Over the next two months, the Public Entity Saba, in collaboration with the Saba Conservation Foundation (SCF), will carry out an invasive species control mission to combat erosion, restore vegetation, and protect native biodiversity.

The project focuses primarily on the removal of free-roaming goats, which have already been reduced by over 90% since 2020. To locate the remaining goats, specialists will use ‘Judas animals’—sterilized goats with tracking collars that help identify hidden populations.

Efforts also target non-native iguanas, feral cats, and rats, which threaten local wildlife. Non-native iguanas will be culled to protect the native Saba Black Iguana, while feral cats will be removed from key nesting areas of the red-billed tropic bird. A rat control pilot project is also underway.

These measures are part of Saba’s broader Nature and Environmental Policy Plan, which includes reforestation, coral restoration, and food security initiatives to promote long-term nature conservation and biodiversity recovery.