Sen. Botoe Kanneh Remains Tight-lipped As Wildlife Crime Hangs Over Gbarpolu
Abraham Sylvester Panto 
GBARPOLU COUNTY, LIBERIA: Gbarpolu County Senator Botoe Kanneh has remained silent amid allegations connecting her to the illegal killing of a protected elephant in Sando Village, District one, Bana Clan.
It was reported that eight hunters killed the wildlife animal in late December 2025 and sold its meat, which has prompted calls for investigation by the Forestry Development Authority and the Government of Liberia.
According to local accounts, the elephant was killed during a morning hunt and butchered immediately afterward, with portions of its meat reportedly sold across the clan.
The act directly contravenes Liberia’s wildlife protection laws, including the Wildlife and Forestry Conservation Regulations under the Forestry Development Authority Act of 1976.
The laws categorically prohibit the hunting, killing, or sale of protected species such as elephants without explicit government authorization.
Amid mounting public scrutiny over the incident, K-NEWS reached out to Senator Botoe Kanneh for comment regarding the allegations; she neither denied nor accepted involvement, remaining tight-lipped, leaving the claims unresolved as authorities face mounting pressure to act.
"Whether I clarify or not, the media don’t reach out and instead run with information about leaders," Senator Kanneh told K-NEWS.
Senator Kanneh who was once involved in the sale of dried meat, emphasized that her past should not be interpreted as evidence of participation in the current wildlife incident and reiterated that no evidence directly links her to the killing or the hunters involved in Sando Village.
