No hunting of animals from now till December except for grasscutter – Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission in its bid to protect Ghana’s ecosystem and to ensure most of the animals do not go extinct has implemented the close season.
Explaining the essence of the close season on the Active Morning Show on 28th September 2022, Madam Ernestina Adumea Anie, acting Public Relations Manager of the Forestry Commission stated that it is the banning of all forms of hunting activities each year from 1st August to 1st December to help the animals and echo system develop.
Justifying her point, she said, “the animals are our heritage, and we need to protect them before they go extinct“.
With that in place, the only animal there is permission to hunt is the grasscutter due to their ability to produce in large numbers but if it is found out that their number is reducing permission will not be granted for them to be hunted again.
She then advised that to engage in hunting one needs a license from the Forestry Commission as it serves as a check on you to do the right thing and not destroy the environment.
Some animals that are protected by the closed season include the pangolin, lion and turtle.
Madam Ernestina encouraged Ghanaians in general to protect the ecosystem stating “we should protect the ecosystem because we need the animals as they form part of our livelihood“.
She stated that their relevance could not be overlooked as they also help in providing food security and protection of river bodies.
She also believes they help solve about half of our sustainable development goals, stating, “without the animals, we have lost the essence of biodiversity”.
Madam Ernestina then rallied Ghanaians to be involved in capturing people participating in activities that destroy the environment such as bush burning, illegal cutting of trees, illegal mining and poaching and also participate in activities that green Ghana.
On the issue of Accra Zoo, Madam Ernestina stated that the recent incident where a man went past the security detail and scaled the wall into the lion’s cage and was attacked by a lion and unfortunately died in the process is still under police investigation.
She, however, assured the public that they are earnestly preparing by putting better measures in place to reopen the Zoo.
