‘Round up loose cattle in Marpi or else…’

Citing concerns about cow droppings desecrating tourist spots on the island, Public Lands Secretary Oscar M. Babauta issued yesterday a one-week grace period for ranchers and cattle owners to ensure their cattle don’t roam outside their permitted areas in Marpi or these cattle will be seized starting Aug. 26.

Cattle owners also face revocation of their Department of Public Lands-issued grazing permit, if their cattle are found on the loose after the one-week grace period that started yesterday.

“I humbly ask all our DPL cattle grazer clients to immediately conduct a survey of their herds. DPL will allow a one-week period, effective…Aug. 19, 2011, for all grazers in Marpi to secure their loose cattle,” Babauta said.

Babauta told Saipan Tribune that tourism partners and other concerned citizens have brought to their attention the negative effect of cow manure not only on tourists but also residents visiting Marpi—a popular tourist destination.

DPL personnel visited the site yesterday and confirmed the presence of cow manure “almost everywhere,” turning off tourists and residents visiting the famous vantage point.

As a result, the DPL secretary issued a statement yesterday to ranchers and cattle owners.

“Any cattle running loose outside their enclosed area will be seized and considered stray animal and will be properly disposed. Stray cattle have been depositing manure (cow droppings) all over Suicide Cliff area where our tourists visit every day,” he said in an announcement.

If there are any loose cattle found after the one-week grace period, Babauta said that DPL will seek the assistance of the Department of Public Safety in eradicating these animals from tourist sites in Marpi.

He also reminded holders of DPL’s annual grazing permits that their permit is part of a “privilege program,” unlike the homestead program. He said this means the grazing permit is “revocable.”

Ramon B. Camacho, chairman of the Saipan Municipal Council and new president of the Saipan Sabalu Farmers Market Inc., said it is good to know that DPL has taken a step to address tourism concerns in the Marpi area.

Camacho, a former police officer, said securing cattle will also ensure the safety of motorists and cattle.

“There were incidents when cattle would hit motorists, or the other way around. It’s hazardous. By DPL calling owners to secure their cattle, it will be for the best interest of everyone—tourists, residents, motorists and the animals too,” Camacho told Saipan Tribune.

He called on cattle owners to heed DPL’s call.

Josie Kaipat, a Kagman II resident who also expressed concern about cow manure being “everywhere” at Suicide Cliff, said yesterday that DPL’s action is welcome news.

“This is wonderful news I’m glad they’re doing something about it. It’s really pointless if you keep on barking up the wrong tree, but this is good,” Kaipat said in a phone interview.

Kaipat said she went to Suicide Cliff one Sunday to enjoy her weekend and read a book under the shade of a tree, only to find cow manure “everywhere”—from the parking lot to the lookout, under the trees and even on a monument at Suicide Cliff.

The DPL secretary, in a separate interview, said he also read Kaipat’s letter to the editor that appeared in yesterday’s issue of Saipan Tribune, raising concern about animal droppings at Suicide Cliff.