Residents of the Peace Community in Caldwell chased and killed a crocodile, a protected animal species, after spotting it moving through the area on Friday night, October 16, 2026.
According to residents, the crocodile had reportedly lived in the area for a long time, although its hiding place was unknown. They said they considered the animal a potential threat, particularly to children in the community.
“We have our children in this community. The crocodile was a danger to them,” one resident told Verity News.
However, conservationist Kanagbeh Boakai Mamanie Kamara has condemned the killing, describing the incident as wrong and shameful.
“Wildlife is not your enemy. Ignorance is your enemy,” Kamara said, calling for greater public awareness about protecting wildlife and safely responding to encounters with wild animals.
He argued that wildlife conservation could create opportunities for ecotourism, employment, and national development, while urging the government to strengthen enforcement of wildlife protection laws.
Kamara also called on the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) to introduce sustained community awareness programs to educate residents about appropriate responses when they encounter wild animals.
Liberia is home to three crocodile species: the West African crocodile, the slender-snouted crocodile, and the dwarf crocodile. Research indicates that these species occupy different habitats, including rivers, wetlands, and mangrove ecosystems.
Under Liberia’s 2016 National Wildlife Conservation and Protected Area Management Law, wildlife protection measures apply to protected species. The specific legal status of the crocodile killed in Caldwell should be confirmed by the relevant authorities.
As of publication, the Forestry Development Authority, the Liberia Special Wildlife Investigation Unit, and the Environmental Protection Agency had not issued statements regarding the incident. The whereabouts of the dead crocodile also remained unknown.
The incident has renewed calls for public education on wildlife conservation and for measures that protect both residents and animals.
