Live up to the rating

In its ranking of action-packed Caribbean island destinations, National Geographic recently rated Tobago number one. Under the heading ­– Go birdwatching in Tobago, the portion of the article designated to this island highlights birding opportunities and locations, inclusive of the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, presented as "the island’s star attraction."

Being rated so highly in a renowned international publication is a boon. However, how attractive would most vacation destinations be if articles about them were brutally honest, rather than simply waxing warm with "tourism speak?"

In the example of Tobago, do tourism-related birding articles ever mention the growing population of feral cats (many dumped in the wilderness by people or establishments) which decimate the island’s wildlife? Do they highlight poison, often placed to "get rid" of cats, which also kills surrounding wildlife? Do they mention the countless dogs dumped in the rainforest?

While such honesty may not exist in tourist brochures, it exists in sentiments expressed directly by many to whom the travel literature caters – foreigners, many (perhaps most) of whom are animal and nature enthusiasts.

The following sentiments were shared by a foreigner, an amateur naturalist, who owns property in Tobago and comes for a few months annually with his spouse. Whenever they are here, they call me frequently to inform me of yet "another stray dog" they have picked up, mainly along the rainforest road.

“We have come to Tobago for many years. We always loved it here. The nature, the climate the people, everything is beautiful. But the situation with the stray, suffering miserable dogs is so heart-wrenching that we could seriously cash out and not come back to Tobago. It is such a stress to see these dogs; we cannot leave them to suffer. It can become a full-time job just taking care of stray suffering animals and there doesn’t seem to be anything being done about it by any authorities...just by a few random kind people. The shelter tries to hold things together but can only do so much. I don’t know that the government supports the shelter. But it is a serious tourism issue at which the government should take a serious look.

"Every time we come, this is supposed to be our vacation but it is always dog rescue. The Main Ridge is a dumping place for dogs. Right now I know of at least four from up there. Three more in our neighbourhood where we are now.

"We at least try to carry dog food and feed those on the brink of starvation. You can tell they have not eaten in a long time. And there is something else going on...I have been watching around the countryside for years. There are more feral cats than ever before. Cats can kill any wildlife to stay alive and they do. It is not the cats' fault – they are doing what they do. But they are overpopulated and dumped to fend for themselves, surviving how they can by preying on Tobago’s wild animals...birds, small mammals, reptiles, bats, insects.

"Around Bon Accord ponds there are lots of waterfowl and there are feral cats in and out of the reeds preying on the water fowls' offspring. Feral cats are also all over Magdalena grounds...which is supposed to be a haven for wildlife.”

This foreigner is not a lone voice in the proverbial wilderness. Most of the many tourists I have met in my nine (going on ten) years of living in Tobago have been directed to me because of animal-related concerns: wanting to know what they can do about injured animals they find...what to do about the chained dog next to their guesthouse which cries incessantly and looks like a skeleton with fur on it...how to go about adopting the dog or cat with which they fell in love and cannot bear to leave behind to an unknown future of neglect or abuse...and those are just some of the many examples.

I have written about this on several occasions – not to be redundant, but to drive a very important point home...Until Tobago recognises the impact that a sub-par animal welfare approach has on animal-loving visitors, the island will never fully realise its long-term eco-tourism dreams.

I hope there is someone in authority reading this who is motivated to meet with Tobago’s relevant stakeholders – to discuss and urgently implement humane solutions required to also make us #1 when it comes to animal welfare.