By: Henry B Gboluma, Jr. | Lofa Correspondent
Bopolu City, Gbarpolu County |March 23, 2026 | The Superintendent of Gbarpolu County, Sam K. Zinnah, has rejected a US$500 sympathy offer from the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) for the family of a man killed by an elephant in Guyanta in Bopolu District.
The FDA team also offered $100 to Mr. Zinnah, $50 to Commissioner, and $50 to the Paramount Chief to help convey their condolences, but the Superintendent refused, citing the FDA’s previous actions against locals who killed elephants.
The Gbarpolu County Local Government Boss questioned why the FDA did not contact him when eight individuals from Sando Village were sued and fined $500 for killing an elephant, but instead came to offer sympathy 20 days after the recent incident.
He expressed frustration with the FDA’s Regional Forester, Kollie Bonner, for accusing the people of Gbarpolu of being responsible for the consistent elephant attacks.
Bonner apologized for his Facebook post, saying he did not mean to offend the people of Gbarpolu.
However, local authorities and CSOs on the ground did not welcome the FDA’s offer, and the team returned to Monrovia to plan a better response. A CSOs team is threatening to work with affected communities to take legal action against the FDA over the elephant killing a man in Gbarpolu.
Meanwhile, Mr. Zinnah emphasized that human life is more important than animal protection. He said, “No elephant is important to any of us.”
He demanded that the FDA prioritize protecting humans and animals in Gbarpolu County.
The incident highlights the growing human-wildlife conflict in the region, with locals complaining that elephants are destroying their farms and threatening their lives.
The FDA has urged citizens to exercise caution when entering forest areas, but locals argue that caution alone is not enough.
The FDA team is expected to return with preventive measures for affected communities plus a more substantial offer to address the concerns of the Gbarpolu County community.
