Peter Gbekonah, a hunter, and Prince Younger, a health assistant, both of Varguaye Town, Grand Cape Mount County, wished to end 2025 and go beyond, but the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) has publicized that violent elephants have caused their untimely death, as the elephants are on the rampage, causing havoc to residents of the county.
“The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) is deeply saddened to report a tragic incident involving the loss of two lives due to human-wildlife conflict, specifically concerning elephants in Gola Konneh District, Grand Cape Mount County,” Victor W. Kpaiseh, Deputy Managing Director for Administration and Finance of FDA, informed.
The function of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) is to sustainably manage and conserve Liberia’s forests and related resources for the benefit of current and future generations.
According to reports gathered from local community’s residents and FDA’s rangers, Peter Gbekonah went on a hunting expedition on October 29, 2025, but did not return home as a result of elephant attack. However, his body was discovered after a thorough search by community’s dwellers and FDA’s rangers a day later.
On another unfortunate note, a dreaded news spread over the community again that Prince Younger, a renounced health assistant in the community, who was also part of the search team for the missing hunter, was attacked by the elephants and killed in the same forest. His body was discovered on November 6, 2025 by a team of community members after a vigorous search.
The FDA has extended deepest condolences to the affected families and the community. The FDA said it recognizes the emotional and financial burdens that the incidents have on families and communities, and it is therefore committed to addressing some of them.
The elephants’ action is a revenge of one of their colleagues’ death caused by unknown hunters. The FDA is challenged to fully protect wildlife animals nationwide.
The FDA’s rangers patrol team report for October 2025, informed its management that a forest elephant was killed by hunters in Gbanjue Town, Porkpa District, a neighboring community to Varguaye Town, Grand Cape Mount County, where the incidents occurred.
The report further suggests that two pieces of the elephant’s ivories (the teeth) were removed, while the body was abandoned.
“Apparently, the killing of one of these elephants and an attempt on another might have grown the aggression of the elephants, thus leading to such tragic actions, Honorable Kpaiseh, Deputy Managing Director for Administration and Finance of FDA, said. “Our goal to conduct such an immense investigation is to gather accurate information that will inform us for future actions.”
In furtherance, the investigation also uncovered other factors leading to the human-wildlife conflict in that region, which include, industrial and artisanal gold mining, excessive hunting and trade for bush meet by hunters, and habitat loss through shifting cultivation.
The FDA does not have complete support to control or manage nationwide forests and wildlife species in Liberia due to numerous challenges that range from low manpower, lack of logistics to inadequate budgetary support, among others.
Howbeit, the FDA has dispatched and deployed the first batch of rangers and wildlife technicians to calm down the situation.
According to the deputy manager, there are needs for more community engagements and awareness and deployment of more rangers in that community and its surroundings, noting that the region is dangerous for human interfering for now.
“We request all community members to avoid trespassing as we engage in the rehabilitation processes of those animals,” FDA announced safety measure.
The vengeance movement of the elephants in Gola Konneh District has put residents under hostages, preventing access to drinking water, farms to get food, and so on. The situation has caused starvation to get on the rise in that part of Grand Cape Mount County.
Meanwhile, the FDA has called on the government, through the National Disaster Management, to supply food, water and medication there. The FDA also called on philanthropists and religious groups to act immediately to avoid severe famine.
“We therefore request an immediate intervention from the entire government, partners, and the general public to extend hands to the community during this difficult time,” the FDA’s deputy manager Kpaised said. “Our recent report gathered shows that the surrounding communities near the forest are lacking food and safe drinking water since they cannot access their farms.”
Gola Konneh forest needs 100 rangers to protect wildlife animals there, but let less than five rangers are on duty without firearm, according to the FDA. For the Sapo National Park, 500 rangers are required but less than 50 unarmed rangers are assigned there, the situation, the FDA said, is a serious challenge it faces at present.
