Do not patronise bush meat during closed season - Nuhu

 Accra (Greater Accra) 27 July '99

The public has been warned against patronising bush meat between October one and December one, since it is a crime to hunt for animals during the period.

'' Buying a wild animal or bush meat during the closed season, means one is encouraging trappers and hunters to destroy wildlife", Mrs Vivian Nuhu, Education Officer of Wildlife Department said in an interview in Accra on Monday.

Mrs Nuhu, said it is an offence punishable by law to buy bush meat or wildlife during the season.

The Closed Season, which starts from August one to December one every year, seeks to restrict hunting since most animals become pregnant during the period.

She noted that licensed trappers, who work with exporters, co-operate with the Department "and do not hunt any animals except the grass cutter (akrantie)" during the season.

The grass cutter has a shorter breeding period than most animals and if not controlled, can become pest.

Persons who sell these animals along the roads are monitored by officers, she said. "We sometimes pay surprise visits to some particular chop bars in Accra".

Mrs Nuhu said programmes on regulations on wildlife would be broadcast in the course of the season to sensitise people on the need to preserve them.