St Martin’s Island, Bangladesh’s only coral island, is home to rich biodiversity—featuring a wide variety of flora and numerous wildlife species—as well as an estimated 7,000 stray dogs. The government has drafted a master plan to protect the island’s biodiversity, which includes preventing the reproduction of all stray dogs through spaying and neutering. However, the proposed sterilisation, culling, and relocation of dogs remain subjects of legal and ethical debate.
To prevent environmental degradation and conserve the island’s biodiversity, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released a draft master plan on Monday, seeking written feedback from stakeholders by 20 December.
In a press release issued on 22 January this year, environment adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said a master plan would be developed to conserve and enhance the island’s environment and biodiversity. She said the government, in coordination with public and private organisations, aims to sterilise all female dogs by 2026 and achieve 100% dog sterilisation by 2030.
Asked about the draft plan, Dr Fahmida Khanom, additional secretary (Environment Wing) of the ministry, told Dhaka Tribune: “St Martin’s is home to many rare species. It is the responsibility of the state to protect its biodiversity. A draft master plan has been prepared, and anyone concerned may provide feedback. The final plan will be completed based on these opinions.”
Barrister Rabab Chowdhury, project director of the People for Animal Welfare Foundation (PAW Foundation), said the dog population could eventually disappear from the island if sterilisation continues at this scale.
“But our survey suggests that achieving 100% sterilisation is not possible. St Martin’s is an island—dogs must have arrived there somehow, even though they obviously did not come by ship. Regardless of how many dogs are sterilised, achieving complete control is impossible. However, the population can be reduced,” she said.
She added that dogs often fight during mating season and that sterilisation helps reduce aggression. “Mother dogs often become aggressive, which locals misunderstand as madness and then beat or kill them,” she said.
“Sometimes, sterilisation is better than starving. It also reduces cancer risks. Other diseases may increase. But dogs will not disappear entirely. It is not easy to eliminate them because they weren’t brought by ship in the first place, yet they exist there,” she said.
The draft master plan includes 26 proposed projects to conserve biodiversity, with an estimated cost of Tk 5,47,900 crore.
According to the sterilisation programme, St Martin’s Island has an estimated 3,300–4,500 stray dogs. About 27% have been spayed or neutered so far.
Concerns outlined in the master plan
Public health risks: dog bites involving locals and tourists; potential spread of rabies and other diseases; fear affecting free movement.
Environmental and biodiversity damage: stray dogs attack turtle eggs and hatchlings, harm native wildlife, and disrupt the island’s ecological balance.
Animal welfare concerns: dogs suffer from lack of food in the off-season; many are sick, injured, or malnourished.
Impacts on society and tourism: fear of dogs affects tourism; locals’ daily lives are disrupted.
Waste management issues: dogs rely heavily on food waste from hotels and restaurants—abundant in peak tourist season but scarce during the off-season.
Initiatives in the draft plan
The plan includes sterilisation and vaccination campaigns, population surveys, and health assessments. The government has already vaccinated about 1,917 dogs, and many have been sterilised. Awareness programmes will be organised on feeding control, banning new pets on the island, sterilising pet dogs, and general animal care.
Targets include 90% sterilisation by 2025, full sterilisation of all female dogs by 2026, and complete population control by 2030.
Challenges
Key challenges identified in the draft plan include low sterilisation rates, limited funding and manpower, lack of sustainable food sources, legal and ethical disputes regarding relocation or culling, difficulty changing public and tourist behaviour, and risks to the fragile ecosystem—particularly in turtle conservation.
Wildlife statistics
St Martin’s Island hosts 194 wildlife species, including 14 mammal species such as small weasels and large bats. It is home to 159 species of resident, migratory, and visiting birds. Reptiles include 14 species—such as cobras and monitor lizards—and freshwater turtles. Ongoing research may reveal additional species.
The surrounding waters support 475 fish species, nine echinoderm species, 187 mollusc species, 12 recorded crab species, and 26 shrimp species.
Location and administrative jurisdiction
St Martin’s Island—also known locally as Narikel Jinjira—lies about 13 kilometres south of the Teknaf Peninsula and close to the Myanmar coast. It falls under Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar district and is part of St Martin’s union.
Due to its strategic proximity to maritime borders, law-enforcement and coastal security activities are jointly managed by the district administration and relevant national authorities.
