Act firmly to protect wildlife – Park Manager

The Park Manager of the Owabi Wildlife Sanctuary in the Atwima-Nwabiagya District, Mr. Thomas Acquah, has expressed deep concern over the growing danger to wildlife by unrestrained poaching, logging and mining and called for firm action to tackle the situation.

He said animal species including the “bear head rock fowl”, “royal antelope”, “bush baby”, “African python”, “broad fronted crocodile”, “black duiker”, “giant pangolin”, “water bucks”, “Mona monkeys” and “Anubis baboon”, had become endangered or extinct, largely through these illegal activities.

He said it was important to take bold steps to deal with conditions threatening their habitat.

Mr. Acquah, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview at the sanctuary at Akropong-Esaase, said more effort and resources should be invested in the protection of the reserves, adding that the economic returns could be immense.

He said the benefits in terms of revenue from well-packed eco-tourism, international support, and sales from licensed hunting would be huge.

He said the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission had plans to intensify its efforts to fend encroachers off the reserves to protect the forest and its resources.

Mr. Acquah said armed rangers would be sent to designated areas to arrest poachers and other offenders.

He said they were also stepping up public education to help the people to appreciate the need to preserve the forest and maintain biodiversity.

Ashanti Region has two wildlife sanctuaries – Owabi and Bomfobiri, and the pair is being threatened by the combined factors of illegal hunting, climate change, urbanization and natural disasters.