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Zwedru – The 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, has fined two individuals for illegally possessing nine and a half bags of pangolins.
By Victoria G. Wesseh
Defendants Folley Varney and Amadou Bah were arrested by the Forestry Department Authority (FDA) on August 23 and charged with multiple offenses, including hunting protected animals, killing protected species without a permit or license, environmental crime, economic sabotage, and criminal conspiracy.
In the court ruling, Judge George S. Wiles noted that since defendants Varney and Bah pleaded guilty to the crimes, not fully understanding the consequences of their actions due to unawareness, they would be given a minimum penalty.
Judge Wiles stated, “The maximum penalty for this crime is US$5,000 or six months imprisonment. However, because they were sincere in admitting to the commission of these crimes, and due to their voluntary confession in open court, acknowledging their actions, and at the request of their counsel to mitigate the penalty.”
Furthermore, Judge Wiles emphasized that defendants Varney and Bah would be dealt with severely to serve as a deterrent to other Liberians, preventing them from selling or hunting endangered species or their parts.
Judge Wiles issued an order for the nine and a half bags of pangolin scales, discovered and confiscated by the FDA Wildlife and Conservation Protection officers, to be returned and disposed of in accordance with FDA regulations. Additionally, he stated that the bonds filed by defendants Varney and Bah should be returned to them.
Providing insight into pangolins, Judge Wiles explained that pangolins are highly sought after for their scales, which are used in traditional medicine in parts of Asia, particularly in China and Vietnam. He also mentioned that pangolin meat is considered a delicacy in Liberia and some other cultures, which drives extensive illegal poaching and trafficking, leading to a decline in their population.
Wiles expressed concern that as the human population expands, forests and other natural habitats are being cleared for agriculture, logging, and urban development, which pangolins rely on for food and shelter. This habitat loss and fragmentation result in reduced access to resources and increased vulnerability to predators and other threats.
He further pointed out that, in addition to illegal trade, pangolins are hunted for their meat and other body parts, driven by local consumption, subsistence hunting, and cultural beliefs, all contributing to the pressure on pangolin populations. He stressed the importance of public awareness and understanding of their ecological importance and plight.
Wiles highlighted that despite many countries, including Liberia, having laws against poaching and trading pangolins, enforcement is often weak, and legal penalties may not be strong enough to deter poachers and traffickers. He called for greater public awareness efforts.
The judge also mentioned ongoing efforts to protect pangolins and conserve their population, including initiatives by international organizations, governments, and NGOs to combat illegal wildlife trade, raise awareness, strengthen legal protection, and rehabilitate and release confiscated pangolins back into the wild.
However, Wiles cautioned that the combination of pangolins’ biological characteristics and the ongoing demand for their parts, especially their scales, make them particularly vulnerable to extinction if effective conservation measures are not implemented and enforced.