In the past few years during the rains, crocodiles have increasingly become unwelcome sights in Banjul.
Will the city see more this time around?
Conservationists have predicted more of this reptile-human interface as more land is needed for development.
Banjul has witnessed an uptick in construction activities in the past few years and this relative increase in construction of, inter alia, warehouses, petrol stations and factories in animal habitats has been forcing reptiles into the city, conservationists say.
Crocodiles have been appearing in human settlements in Banjul during rainy season.
And as unwelcome as they were, the crocodiles that were mostly found in gutters were subjected to cruel treatments by some residents.
Some of them were exposed to public torments before getting killed.
This trend should appall and concern everyone because the abuse of the right and welfare of endangered species like crocodiles is unacceptable.
Consequently, as rainy season set in, we would like to accentuate the overwhelming need for government to protect vulnerable animals such as those crocodiles who may stray into the capital reportedly as a result of human encroachment on their habitat.
People should be adequately sensitised as to how they should deal with situations where a helpless crocodile is being found where it’s not supposed to be.
A hotline could also help greatly in the avoidance of unnecessary crocodile deaths in our city in the hands of humans.
How about the regeneration of their ecosystem?
And, how can a balance be struck between conservation and development?
And, lastly a stringent law is required as a deterrent to ill-treatment of protected and endangered animals.
