VOINJAMA (LINA) – The Commissioner of Zogolemai Township in Bondi Clan, Voinjama District, Lofa County, Peter Paywala, has raised alarm over the “constant attacks” by a herd of elephants on rice farms and villages in the township.
Speaking to the Liberia News Agency (LINA) in Balakpalasu Town, the headquarters of Zogolemai Township on Thursday, Commissioner Paywala said the attacks by the wildlife have led to the destruction of several rice farms, and cash crops such as banana, plantain, cassava, eddoes and potatoes as well as rice kitchens.
Commissioner Paywala said because of fear of these attacks by the elephants, farming n the area has virtually come to a standstill, noting that if this continues, it may result to serious hardship for citizens of the area during next year’s farming season.
He disclosed that this is not the first time that the elephants have attacked their farms and villages, saying the repeated attacks by these animals are posing serious threat to lives and farming activities in the township.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Paywala is appealing to the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) to swiftly intervene to help redirect these animals as all efforts to scare them away using the traditional methods have proved futile.
According to Commissioner Paywala, his call on the FDA was necessary because elephants under the FDA wildlife conservation regulations are not to be killed but rather preserved for tourism purposes.
Comments are closed.