Tigers in Freedom Jacob Caesar's home do not pose danger to inhabitants - Wildlife
Officers from the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, have visited the home of businessman Nana Kwame Bediako at the Wonda World Estates at Ridge in Accra, where some residents at the gated community, have raised concerns about the presence of two tigers [cubs] in his house.
According to the Wildlife officers, the animals pose no danger to the inhabitants of the estate.
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The Director of Operations at the FC, Louis Kanton, after visiting the animals on Friday [May 22, 2022] told journalists that their investigation has revealed that "so far their [tigers] welfare is being taken care of. So from here, we are going to meet and decide on the next line of action."
"But we want to assure the public that we are satisfied with the conditions under which they are living here [home of Bediako] and we also want to thank the police who are also providing security here. There are all assurances that the next steps will see these animals out of this place, but until then, we are still making some investigations," he said.
He said the investigations will take some time because they have to go and brief their bosses and see the next line of action, because to relocate the animals to a new environment will need another design and another construction at the appropriate place.
He said they [tigers] are in good condition, animal welfare, they are not squeezed, the environment in which they are staying is large enough, spacious enough and their feeding, if you look at them, they look healthy, so if you look at it that way, then you can get assurances that for the few days, or weeks, they have been well catered for."
Click this link to Watch a video of the tigers
I've followed all legal procedures in keeping tigers in my home - Freedom Jacob Caesar
Meanwhile, the businessman, Nana Kwame Bediako alias Freedom Jabob Caesar has defended the reason for keeping the two tigers [cubs] in his house at the Wonda World Estate at Ridge in Accra.
According to him, he has followed all the necessary procedures underlined by the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission to keep the animals in his home.
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"I don't think I am putting anyone in danger because the necessary procedures to protect the animals have been done."
"The necessary procedures to be able to build the future for the animals is in process with the [Forestry] Commission.
"So I don't know if somebody is saying if this has happened or that has happened. These animals have not harmed anyone, they have not been out there on the streets, they've been fed and taken care of and they are still cubs, they are yet to grow. They haven't even turned a year, they are still in their 6th, 7th month. So that is all it is," he added.
Explaining how the animals are kept in his home, Bediako said the procedures are done, the protection [cage] is well mounted in the safety of the public, it is very much considered and so at my own time, I will like to probably even like to show how we went through the process of creating this protection [cage] to making sure that the animals are fed, trained."
There has been public calls for the animals to be removed from the home of Nana Kwame Bediako by the Wildlife Division following media reports that some residents have complained that the animals were a nuisance in the estate and they [residents] don't feel safe in the gated community.
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Forestry Commission visits animals and say they pose no threats
Officers from the Forestry Commission on Friday afternoon [May 20, 2022] visited the home where the animals are kept and said they were satisfied with the condition in which the animals are in.
The FC officers from the Wildlife Division said the tigers pose no threats to the inhabitants of the estate.
Earlier, the Police in a statement said preliminary investigations had established that a resident in the gated community was keeping the two tigers under lock in a cage.
"Police have reached out to the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission and efforts are underway to relocate the animals to an appropriate facility," the Police said in a statement.
"A special police team has been deployed to provide adequate security in the affected neighbourhood to ensure the safety of residents until the animals are relocated.
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The residents of the estate had in a news report complained about the presence of the tigers being an inconvenience and a threat to their safety.
Writer's email: enoch.frimpong@graphic.com.gh