Monrovia – About seven hundred and eight pieces of bush meat seized from illegal meat sellers by rangers of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) were yesterday publicly set ablaze in an apparent action to deter the habit of wanton killing of wildlife and other endangered species.
The consignment of bush meat was confiscated from the Clay Checkpoint in Bomi County and conveyed to the FDA Main Compound In Whein Town Monrovia after which the pieces of meat were ordered destroyed by the Deputy Managing Director for Operations Darlington Tuagben.
Mr. Tuabgben said the action by the FDA authority follows repeated failed warnings to meat sellers and hunters to desist the act as it tends to undermine the law governing wildlife and other endangered species in the country.
Mr. Tuagben noted that the future of the country stands to be undermined should the law continue to be applied with mercy; something he emphasized will undercut the international best practices as far as conservation is concerned.
Mr. Tuagben hopes the action of the FDA will be understood by the public as protecting our heritage and natural resource in the interest of future generation.It can be recalled that in February of this year the Manger for wildlife Division Edward Gbeintor, in a circular, warned all meat hunters and sellers to desist the illegal killing and selling of “fully protected animal species” in contravention to the Forestry Reform Law of 2006 and regulation #25 of 1988 which prohibit or regulate the killing and hunting of wildlife in Liberia.
Although the illegal sellers pleaded guilty to the commission of the act, the FDA authority said the destruction of the meat is the practical way of demonstrating the seriousness attached to the law.