…MD calls on Govt to rescue Park and forest reserve from illegal loggers, total lack of law
By Okhide Em’ya David
Okomu Oil Palm Company Managing Director, Dr. Graham Hefer has appealed to Nigerian Government and other relevant Authorities to rescue the Okomu National Park and Forest Reserves from illegal loggers and others who have cultivated the habit of desecrating the natural habitat.
Dr. Graham Hefer made the appeal after he led a team of his staff to rescue a second elephant on behalf of the Okomu National Park, the first being in October 3, 2019.
The MD observed that illegal logging and a total lack of law and order in the axis of the Okomu National Park was making it a no go area for law abiding citizens and forcing animals like the elephants to move to other areas.
He commended the Park for trying to rescue the elephant, despite their limited ability to do so and stated that, like all good neighbors, his company would always rally her resources to assist the Park where they could do so.
The MD explained that as part of the company’s RSPO certification obligations the ongoing environmental sustainability of the Okomu National Park was paramount to the company and they would not sit back with their hands folded and watch the biodiversity within the Park destroyed.
He said it was also the case with the elephant which was an integral part of the Park, like the White Throated Monkey which needed to be protected at all costs from habitat destruction within the Park.
The Conservator of the Park, Alhaji Abdulkaem Testeem Adeniyi, expressed delight and praise for the MD and the company for not only saving the life of the elephant, but also for the company’s ongoing technical and other supports for the Park.
He thanked the company for assisting them with sustained fuel for their electricity generating Sets and vehicles as well as servicing of patrol vehicles, all at the company’s cost.
Alhaji Abdulkaem Testeem Adeniyi, spoke of the close relationship the company and the Park had with their MoU and that Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc was closely working with the Park to develop its new management framework and policy in order to guarantee sustainability of the Park for future generations.
He observed that the company’s own high conservation areas, adjoining the park are some of the endangered species, because they are the best and last areas of hardwood timbers in Nigeria hence they are regularly targeted by illegal loggers.
The Conservator of the Park, remarked that Okomu Oil Palm Company, at their own cost, has continued to protect these areas notwithstanding that other Institutions including the Edo State Ministry of Environment Forestry Unit regularly use these HCVs for training of their Forestry Officers because of their retained biodiversity.
Alltimepost.com gathered that on Saturday afternoon the 6th of March a distress call came from the CP of the Okomu National Park, that an elephant had fallen into a ditch in the forest and was unable to come out and help was sought from Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc to rescue the animal.
On receiving this information, the Managing Director, Dr. Graham Hefer, assembled and personally led a rescue team which included Messrs. Billy Ghansah, Ian Wickham, Menno Uys and Uche Kika, amongst others to the scene.
On arrival, it was discovered that the elephant had slipped into the ditch full of muddy water and could not extricate itself without the deployment of heavy duty equipment.
So, the company called for their pay loader and backhoe machines to create a step way for the elephant so it could climb out of the muddy hole.
After about two hours of digging into the night, the team, aided by the Park Rangers, managed to carve enough of a step way for the elephant to gain his freedom again and to slip back into the forest, uninjured.
According to the Rangers, motor saws had caused the elephant to be spooked and to fall into the hole.
This is the second elephant rescued by Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc, on behalf of the Okomu National Park, the first being in October 3rd 2019.
