BNT Raises $100K at Cuban Pig Roast for Flamingo Conservation

May 11th, 2022 – Nassau, Bahamas

The Bahamas National Trust (BNT) celebrated a return to in-person events with their first Cuban Pig Roast since 2020, held on Saturday, May 7th at the Maillis Farm. The event was a huge success, raising a total of $100,000 to support the enhancement of BNT’s Predator Control Program. The Predator Control Program at the Inagua National Park will advance the protection of our national bird, the West Indian Flamingo.

With a target of $175,000 to operationalize the program, Pig Roast provided a significant jumpstart to the organization’s fundraising efforts. The event offered attendees a night of Cuban-style food catered by Events by Alexandra, mojitos and cocktails, flamenco dancing, and entertainment, along with the chance to participate in a live auction to pledge a monetary donation in support of flamingo conservation. More than half of the auction’s funds raised were pledged from within the ALBANY community, with leading gifts from the Callender and Young families.

Once on the brink of extinction, the West Indian Flamingo became one of the BNT’s very first conservation successes through the creation and management of the Inagua National Park in the 1950s. Today, the Inagua National Park is the site of the largest breeding colony of West Indian Flamingos in the world. But devastatingly, in 2021, flamingo nests and breeding grounds were decimated by increasing feral hog populations on the island.

The Predator Control Program will help to mitigate the population of wild hogs that threaten this vulnerable species, as well as support increased scientific monitoring of flamingos on the island. Funds raised at Pig Roast will be allocated towards procuring all-terrain utility vehicles; speciality monitoring and surveillance equipment; hog feeders and traps for population control; consultation and expertise; community outreach and training; and much more.

Eric Carey, BNT Executive Director, said, “This Pig Roast was very special because it is the first we’ve had since the start of the pandemic, and it supports a vital program in a historically significant national park. On a recent trip I took with our partners, Re:wild, we assessed the needs of the Inagua National Park to revisit its management plan. The BNT couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve been able to accomplish in Inagua up to this point. But in order to continue to preserve our national bird for now and tomorrow, this Predator Control Program is critical.

“We’re grateful for everyone who attended and supported Pig Roast 2022, and we hope we’ll continue to see this same support as we ramp up fundraising efforts to meet our goal.”

The event drew in its annual supporters, who were pleased to see the return of BNT fundraisers, as well as very special guests, including: The Hon. Basil McIntosh, Minister of State of the Environment and Member of Parliament for Inagua; U.S. Embassy Charges d’Affairs Usha Pitts; and Her Excellency Sarah Dickson of the British High Commission.

Pig Roast’s corporate attendees included: ALBANY Resort; AML Foods; Atlantis; Baha Mar Foundation; Bahamas First; Bahamas Waste; Bahamian Brewery; Bristol Wines & Spirits; Caribbean Bottling Company; Caribbean Wines & Spirits; Ernst & Young; Jimmy’s Wines & Spirits; Lyford Cay Club; Octogone; RBC; Sagoma Construction; Scotia Wealth Management; and West Bay Advisors.

Thanks to generous sponsors and in-kind donors, guests at the Pig Roast were also able to participate in a raffle with a variety of prizes at stake, including: three-nights in Inagua for up to four people donated by BNT Past President Glenn Bannister; roundtrip for two on Western Air to Andros’ exclusive Kamalame Cay private island; one-night luxury stay at The Island House; Dewar’s Scotch Whisky flight package; Perrier-Jouët brut champagne; Graycliff cigars; Bahama Barrels wine; chef’s carving knife, spices, and coffee compliments of Best Brew Bahamas; and more.

To learn more about the role the BNT plays to manage terrestrial and marine national parks, protect species that inhabit them, and inform environmental policy, please visit its website: www.bnt.bs and follow/subscribe to various social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.