Tema residents appeal to wildlife authorities to rescue raccoons found in container

Some concerned residents at Tema are calling on wildlife authorities to come to the rescue of three raccoons who were found in a container shipped to Ghana through the Tema Port.

In an interview with the media, the concerned residents explained that they discovered the three animals were not native to Ghana.

After researching online, they identified the animals as raccoons and realized that caring for them would be costly.

"We were unloading a container when we found these animals. It was immediately clear that they were not from Ghana. After checking online, we learned they were raccoons and that their diet is expensive. We are asking the relevant authorities to intervene so they do not perish," a resident shared.

The residents believe the government should take advantage of the situation and provide appropriate housing and care for the animals, making Ghana one of the first countries in Africa to have raccoons.

Explaining possible reasons for how the raccoons ended up in Ghana, Dr. Theophilus Odoom, the Head of Laboratory at the Accra Veterinary Services Directorate, mentioned that the raccoons likely sought a warm place and accidentally ended up in the container.

He anticipates that the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission will evaluate the situation and ensure the raccoons' well-being.

"Raccoons could potentially carry rabies. Our usual protocol involves collaborating with zoo veterinarians and keeping them in captivity for quarantine purposes," Dr. Odoom stated in a report on Yen News.

Check out the video here:

Residents appeal to wildlife authorities and the government to intervene in the case of three raccoons shipped from the U.S. to Ghana in a shipping container#UTVNews pic.twitter.com/RcsAd8zJx7

— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) June 18, 2024