New warning signs banning the feeding of stray dogs at Bahrain’s historical and archaeological sites will soon be installed alongside strict no-trespassing notices, as authorities intensify efforts to tackle what officials describe as a growing threat to the kingdom’s cultural heritage.
The measures were revealed during an urgent extraordinary meeting of the Northern Municipal Council yesterday, where officials, councillors and animal welfare representatives debated rising concerns over stray dog activity around protected heritage locations.
Existing sites mostly include the Dilmun Burial Mounds, covering 21 sites and 20km across Bahrain, added to the Unesco World Heritage List in 2019. Sites are located in Hamad Town, including Buri, Karzakan, Dar Kulaib and the chieftain burial mounds in Janabiya and A’ali.
Leading the discussion was Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (Baca) director for antiquities Shaikh Ebrahim bin Humood Al Khalifa, who confirmed that animal control teams would be temporarily granted access to restricted heritage zones to safely remove stray dogs under direct supervision from heritage officials.
“We have people placing food at our archaeological sites and effectively turning them into shelters for stray dogs,” said Shaikh Ebrahim.
“This has become a real problem. We will instal clear signs prohibiting feeding animals, alongside existing no-trespassing notices. We will temporarily open sites to allow teams to remove the dogs, and after that tighter fencing around those areas will be placed.”
Officials say the issue has become increasingly serious, with stray dogs gathering in burial mound areas and protected archaeological locations where frequent human activity, food dumping and unauthorised feeding are encouraging the animals to settle permanently.
Representing the animal health side, Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture Ministry domestic animals production director Dr Abbas Al Haiki stressed that the government’s approach would focus on humane and controlled removal.
“The removal process will be safe,” he said.
“The new tender will involve capture, sterilisation and temporary sheltering in Hafeera facilities under a new 30-month contract. The current operator continues until September, after which a new company will take over.”
Dr Al Haiki said Bahrain is also preparing updated legislation governing domestic animal ownership, including microchip registration systems designed to track pet owners more effectively.
“Sometimes we face security-related cases involving expatriates being deported while authorities discover they own seven or eight cats or dogs. The question becomes where do these animals go because obviously they cannot board the plane with them.
“We then have to search for adopters.”
He also revealed a nationwide awareness campaign is being planned.
“Importantly, Bahrain remains completely free of rabies. No case has ever been recorded in any animal here, although import procedures for pets remain extremely strict and require extensive testing,” said Dr Al Haiki.
Bahrain Pet Cats and Dogs Association vice-president, international canine judge, existing dog care company official and animal welfare advocate Mohammed Al Mass urged balanced enforcement, suggesting feeding practices should be better regulated rather than criminalised outright.
“People should feed dry food rather than dumping unsuitable waste food. Punishment should not be the immediate answer.”
Northern Municipal Council chairman Dr Sayed Shubbar Al Wedaie called for decisive action but warned against rushing straight into harsh penalties.
“We need to stop the feeding of stray dogs and reduce harmful interactions that encourage wrong practices,” he said.
“There must be institutional co-operation and the strictest penalties should be considered for repeated feeding violations.
“But we are not looking to break people through punishment or make society lose compassion.
“A proper awareness programme must come before penalties, but we cannot allow unnecessary delays.”
Meanwhile, the council’s services and public utilities committee chairwoman Zainab Al Durazi revealed surveillance had identified individuals travelling from outside affected areas specifically to feed stray dogs.
“We have monitored people coming from outside neighbourhoods just to feed these animals,” she said.
“This encourages illegal breeding and creates bigger problems that heritage officials are forced to deal with.
“In some places seafood waste has been dumped near boundary walls, and that is not proper animal food.”
Western Hamad Town councillor Abdulla Al Qobaisi also raised alarm over the impact on archaeological preservation.
“Encroachment on heritage sites is a major problem,” he said.
“Our archaeological burial grounds are extremely important and urgently need cleaning and protection.”
The meeting ended with officials agreeing on tighter co-ordination between municipal authorities, animal welfare teams and heritage officials as Bahrain pushes to protect its ancient sites from becoming unintended stray animal colonies – balancing animal welfare concerns with preserving some of the kingdom’s most historically valuable landmarks.
For now, the message from authorities is clear: Bahrain’s treasured heritage sites are no place for illegal feeding stations.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
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