Firm rescues another elephant in Benin, says illegal loggers threatening conservation

Natural resources have also become a target for regular encroachment by illegal loggers.

News Agency of Nigeria • March 8, 2021

Photo of an angry Elephant used to illustrate the story (Credit: Fine Art America)

The Management of Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc. Benin, has called on Edo Government to contain activities of illegal loggers at the Okomu National Park, which causes deforestation and threatens the existence of the animals.

The company’s Communications Officer, Fidelis Olise, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Benin that the management made the call after the company helped to rescue an elephant that fell into a muddy ditch on Saturday night.

He said that Okomu Oil’s Managing Director, Graham Hefer, who led the rescue team, made the call after “it took two hours of strenuous digging of a muddy hole to save the stressed elephant.”

Mr. Olise said the elephant fell into a ditch in the Okomu National Park, in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of Edo State.

“On Saturday afternoon of March 6, a distress call came from the Conservator of the Okomu National Park, Mr Teslim Kareem, that an elephant had fallen into a ditch in the forest and was unable to come out.

“On receiving this information, Hefer assembled and personally led a rescue team to the scene. At the scene, it was discovered that the elephant had slipped into a ditch full of muddy water and could not extricate itself without the deployment of heavy-duty equipment.

“So, the company called for their payloader and backhoe machines to create a step way for the elephant so it could climb out of the muddy hole.

According to Mr. Olise, this is the second elephant rescued by Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, on behalf of the Okomu National Park, the first being on October 3, 2019.

He quoted Mr. Kareem as saying that the company’s own High Conservation Areas (HCVs) adjoining the park were some of the best and last areas of hardwood timbers.

Mr. Olise noted that Mr. Kareem, however, regrets that the natural resources have also become a target for regular encroachment by illegal loggers.

Mr. Olise said that Mr. Hefer had called on the government to come to the aid of the park and forest reserve as illegal logging and activities of criminals within the axis were making it a no-go area for law-abiding citizens.