The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) has accused the Gbarpolu County Senator Botoe Kanneh of undermining the implementation of the Wildlife Protection Law of Liberia.
According to the Manager of the Confiscation and Anti-Smuggling Unit of the FDA’s Forest Ranger, Ali Kais, Senator Kanneh has continued to interfere with the implementation of the law protecting Wildlife in the country.
Manager Kais alleged that Senator Kanneh and her bodyguards have attacked members of the Forest Ranger at the Sawmill Check Point Monday when a suspect was arrested for carrying 17 bodies of dry monkey bushmeats with a little living monkey.
The trading of bush-meat in large quantities is against the Wildlife protection act of 2015.
The FDA ranger told local media that Senator Kanneh action poses serious threat against the forest rangers operation to protect wildlife species across the nation.
According to a recent report, members of forest ranger were first attack at VOA Junction in Brewerville by Senator Kanneh’s her bodyguards after eight bags of bushmeat that belongs to the senator were confiscated at Janet Check Point but forcefully taken away from them.
Liberia is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species(CITES)which is intended to protect wildlife in Liberia and the country has also enacted An Act adopting the National Wildlife Conservation and Protected Area Management Law of Liberia which was approved October 5. 2016 that calls for law enforcement of law by the forest ranger and other security sectors of Liberia.
“We cannot sit here as a government and allowed single hunter or group of individuals to destroy our biodiversity, it is important to note that these wildlife species attract tourism and the country can benefit as a whole” the ranger added.
Our correspondent said suspect arrested also found with six single barrel shots and immediately turn over to the Liberia National Police(LNP) for prosecution at the Gbarma Magisterial Court in Gbarma District, Gbarpolu County.
The suspect identified as Peter Wonmein was charged for violating the Wildlife Protection Law of Liberia and forwarded to the Gbarma Magisterial Court Tuesday September 14, 2021 for prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Associate Magistrate of the Gbarma Magisterial Court, Magistrate Boima H. Cooper who presided over the case between FDA and suspect Wonmein charged him with three counts which are illegal possession of bushmeat, protected animal and hunting of wildlife .
Magistrate Cooper fined Mr. Wonmein US$250.00 to be pay in The Government of Liberia’s Revenue and the 17 bodies dry monkey bushmeats were confiscated pending the burning of them at a later date.
Need for more wildlife protection
For his part, the Wildlife Protection Officer or the Humane Society International (HSI) assigned in Western Region of Liberia Jallah Fahnbulleh said the prevention and protection of wildlife species are critical to preserving the biodiversity of Liberia.
Mr. Fahnbulleh stated prosecution and Confiscation of protect animals will go a long way to curtail killing and hunting wildlife species the country.
He indicated that HSI has been working with FDA to educate law enforcers about the significant to protect the rights of animals across the nation.
He explained that the killing and selling of wildlife should not be the only alternative for livelihood, noting that if government and partners are not robust to battle wildlife crime now , the endangered species will be finished in the near future from Liberia.
Senator Botoe Kanneh is known for the trade of dry meat in Gbarpolu County western Liberia prior to her election as senator in December 2020.
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