AYV News, August 12, 2024
Sierra Leone’s government, through its Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs has expressed profound shock and disappointment regarding the disturbing video currently circulating on social media, which shows an individual posing with a dead leopard recently killed in a trap.
According to the ministry this marks the second Leopard fatality reported in the Koinadugu and Falaba districts.
The ministry in a statement said: “As custodians of Sierra Leone’s rich and diverse biodiversity, the Ministry acknowledges the critical role that wildlife plays in our ecosystem and its value as an asset for ecotourism. Our recent efforts to validate the country’s Wildlife Tourism Policy underscore the Government’s unwavering commitment to conservation and wildlife protection.
“The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs strongly condemned this heinous act against our exotic wildlife species. Such actions undermine our conservation efforts and tarnish Sierra Leone’s global reputation. Moreover, these acts of violence threaten the government’s efforts to promote tourism and endanger our ecotourism prospects.
“Every citizen must recognize that tourism impacts us all. Harming protected species and damaging our national parks not only devastates our wildlife but also jeopardizes our economy and future. If we continue down this path, we risk losing our natural heritage, an invaluable resource that we must safeguard for future generations.
“The Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, therefore, called on all stakeholders and citizens to join forces in the fight against wildlife crime and to promote respect for our environment and its inhabitants. Together, we can put an end to these tragic killings and safeguard our invaluable natural resources”.
Additionally, the ministry has cautioned the public to refrain from sharing images of animal cruelty occurring in other countries as if they took place in Sierra Leone.
According to the ministry, the videos of animal abuse involving a Lion and, in another instance, a Gorilla did not happen in Sierra Leone.
