By Calvin Quays
Harbel, Margibi_The Country Director of the Humane Society International (HSI) has stressed the need for Liberians to protect the wildlife population of Liberia to prevent the extinction and attract tourism industry in the country which create more job opportunities for young people.
According to Mr. Morris Darbo, wildlife protection in Liberia is critical toward building a vibrant tourism sites in this part of West Africa which could create sustainable for the youthful population in the tourism industry.
He made the assertion Friday at the Harbal Market after various tours to purchase varieties of vegetables and fruits to feed the over 60 retired chimpanzees on six islands in Marshall, Margibi County.
According to him, Humane Society International works around the globe to promote human-animal bond, rescue and protect dogs and cats, improve farm animal welfare, protect wildlife, promote animal-free testing and research, respond to natural disaster and confront cruelty to animals in all its forms.
“The organization has been in Liberia since 2015 providing a lifetime care and protection for the over retired 60 biomedical research chimpanzees on the six islands” Mr. Darbo added.
He noted that the 65 chimpanzees were abandoned as the results of the Liberian civil crisis, but HSI which has been catering to wildlife globally, started providing care and protection for chimpanzees since 2015.
Jobs for Liberians
He disclosed that the chimpanzees were once used for research purposes in the 1970s until the Liberian Civil Conflict erupted and they were abandoned on the six islands.
Mr. Darbo indicated that the protection of these chimpanzees have created jobs for more than 30 Liberians through the HSI as well as empowering local farmers and business women with the purchased of vegetables and fruits in various towns and villages in Grand Bassa, Margibi and Montserrado Counties.
He maintained that HSI spends more than 1,000 United States Dollars weekly to purchase the various kinds of vegetables and fruits to feed the chimpanzees and ensure that they are healthy and save from diseases and the farmers are using the funds from the crops to send their children to school and undertake other developmental projects.
He revealed that HSI not only caters for the 65 chimpanzees, but also worked in partnership with the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and other wildlife organizations operating in Liberia to create awareness concerning the preservation and protection of Liberia’s wildlife.
He Pointed out that Liberia has signed an international treaties intended to protect wildlife and HSI is in Liberia to buttress the Liberian Government’s effort in protecting wildlife in the country.
In late April 2020, Liberia Public Radio quoted Mr. Darbo that Food shortages have hit the chimps and he was finding it difficult to feed the animals.
Benefiting local businesses
Meanwhile, the Procurement Officer of HSI, George T. Saycoyah said during the rainy season to purchase some of the vegetables and fruits such as pawpaw, banana, plantains, pineapple, coconut, potato green among others can be difficult to get at nearby towns and villages along the roads in these three counties.
Mr. Saycoyah stated that HSI has special local business women who supply the various vegetables and fruits to feed the chimpanzees at various towns and villages every week.
He noted that the purchased of vegetables and fruits from these business women and local farmers to feed the chimpanzees have been able to improve their living conditions at some levels
He explained that 65 chimpanzees are expected to live for several years from now and if local farmers will be empowered to produce sufficient vegetables and fruits with proper storage to maintain them at all times in the year, it will greater opportunity to supply HIS regularly.
Mr. Saycoyah lamented that sometimes, the local businesswomen have go to Guinea to purchase the needed vegetables and fruits to feed the chimpanzees.
For her part, one of the suppliers of vegetables and fruits in Waka Town at #2 Compound in Grand Bassa County, Madam Belinda Reeves expressed delighted for HSI to empower local business women through the supplied of vegetables and fruits to feed chimpanzees.
Madam Reeves stated that HSI’s chimp food purchases have enabled her to build a house and take good care of her family, including, sending her children to school before the outbreak of COVID-19 in the country.
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