Current Situation
Marine turtle welfare is central to Kiribati's animal welfare landscape. Green and hawksbill turtles nest on Kiribati's beaches, and traditional harvesting has occurred for centuries. Conservation programs supported by international organizations have worked with communities to develop sustainable harvest approaches and turtle monitoring programs. As sea levels rise, turtle nesting beach loss threatens reproductive success. Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), one of the world's largest marine protected areas at 408,250 km², was established in 2008. PIPA encompasses the Phoenix Islands group, protecting their marine biodiversity including sharks, rays, fish, and marine invertebrates. The closure of PIPA to commercial fishing has been described as a significant conservation and welfare achievement, reducing fishing-related mortality and bycatch. Livestock in Kiribati includes pigs, chickens, and goats kept primarily for subsistence. Limited land area on atoll islands restricts livestock numbers. Pigs are kept for ceremonial feasting and cultural exchange. Veterinary services are extremely limited—the country has few trained veterinarians, concentrated on South Tarawa. Dog management on South Tarawa's densely populated urban atoll is challenging, with stray dog populations creating public health concerns. Climate change impacts on animal welfare in Kiribati include coral bleaching affecting reef fish welfare and ecology, saltwater intrusion degrading freshwater that livestock depend on, and more intense cyclones damaging livestock shelters. As climate change forces population relocation discussions, animal welfare dimensions of human displacement are relevant—moving communities may abandon livestock.
Key Welfare Issues
Small Pacific Island nations face shared animal welfare challenges — limited veterinary capacity, traditional practices, climate vulnerability, and marine biodiversity conservation. Regional cooperation through SPREP and Pacific regional bodies helps address these shared challenges with limited national resources.
Pathways Forward
Progress requires regional cooperation, investment in veterinary capacity, community engagement, and integration of traditional ecological knowledge with modern welfare science. Climate change adaptation planning must include animal welfare dimensions to ensure resilience of both human and animal communities.
Further Reading
Resources from SPREP, the World Organisation for Animal Health, and Pacific Island conservation organizations provide guidance for practitioners working in the region.