Wildlife Crime And Brutality: Condemning The Killing And Gifting Of A Hippo To The President

Omar Malmo Sambou Jr. Environmentalist

I strongly condemn the barbaric slaying of a hippo in the River Gambia. This action is not only a legal offense but also a repugnant display of moral bankruptcy and a clear affront to reason. The Department of Parks and Wildlife’s feeble attempt to conceal this atrocious act, where they claim ignorance regarding the hippo’s gift to the President, is a flimsy and implausible tale. It strains credulity to suggest that a government department could be unaware of the killing and subsequent presentation of a hippo to the highest office. The logistics involved in transporting such a massive animal, not to mention the specialized knowledge required, indicate a well-coordinated and premeditated act of cruelty. 

It is implausible that a ranger acting on behalf of a government department would go to such lengths without their knowledge. The transportation of the hippo involved a special truck and the efforts of several individuals, pointing to a conspiracy that cannot be brushed aside as a mere jest but rather a suspicious undertaking. 

A government department entrusted with safeguarding our precious biodiversity should never engage in concealing wildlife crimes perpetrated by any arm of the government, including the presidency. This reprehensible act deserves condemnation from all quarters, including those within the Department of Parks and Wildlife.

I call upon the President to be mindful of our existing legislation and international agreements related to biodiversity and wildlife conservation, which The Gambia has signed and ratified. Until the true motive behind this cruel act is revealed, I urge the presidency to refrain from any complicity in this wildlife crime. As a symbol of the nation’s leadership, the presidency should set an example in the preservation of our remaining natural treasures, echoing the principles laid out in the 1977 Banjul Declaration.