By Ernest Kpehe Moibah| RRNN-Liberia
Tubmanburg City, Bomi County: Fear and desperation are mounting across Grand Cape Mount and Gbarpolu Counties as repeated elephant invasions devastate farms, destroy livelihoods, and push rural families to the brink of survival.
Residents say wild elephants have stormed their farming communities at least four times in the past three months, flattening crops that families rely on for food and income. “Our people are living in fear,” lamented community leader Mustapha Biallay. “Every time the elephants enter our farms, they destroy the crops we depend on to feed our families and earn a living.”
The destruction has left households reeling. Farmers warn that if the situation continues unchecked, hunger and poverty will deepen. Some frustrated residents are even considering setting traps to kill the animals — a dangerous prospect that underscores the urgency of intervention.
In Gbarma District, Gbarpolu County, farmer Joseph Saah echoed the alarm. “We have worked hard to cultivate our land, but repeated invasions are making it impossible for families to support themselves,” he said, appealing directly to the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) for swift action.
The FDA acknowledges the crisis. Region One Regional Forester Kollie Bonner confirmed that relief assistance, including food and essential supplies, has been provided to some affected communities. He explained that the surge in human-elephant encounters is linked to farming, charcoal production, and mining activities that have stripped away natural forests. “The loss of wildlife habitats is forcing elephants closer to communities in search of food,” Bonner said.
Bonner urged residents to avoid protected forest areas whenever elephants are sighted and noted that the FDA is expanding awareness and training programs to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife. But for many farmers, these measures fall short of the long-term solutions they desperately need.
The crisis highlights a growing clash between human survival and wildlife preservation. As elephants lose their habitats, rural families lose their crops — a collision that threatens both conservation efforts and food security. Communities are demanding stronger government action, including sustainable strategies that protect farms while safeguarding endangered species.
For now, families remain on edge, guarding what little remains of their harvests and praying for protection against the next invasion. The elephant rampage has transformed these counties into flashpoints of rural vulnerability, where the struggle for survival collides with the urgent need to balance human livelihoods and wildlife conservation.
