A Special Select Committee of the National Assembly investigating the sale and disposal of assets belonging to former Gambian president Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh has recommended that the Kanilai Wildlife Park and all its associated wildlife assets be immediately placed under the full custody of the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management (DPWM) in a bid to restore proper management and protect the remaining animals.
According to the committee’s findings, the park should be formally handed over to the DPWM through a written transfer process to ensure clear authority and accountability in the management of the facility. The recommendation comes amid growing concerns about the condition of the wildlife park and the welfare of the animals housed there.
The committee stressed that the Department of Parks and Wildlife Management must be given the necessary support to rehabilitate the park and its facilities. This includes providing adequate budgetary allocations, veterinary services, and trained personnel capable of addressing the needs of the wildlife. Members of the committee emphasized that proper feeding, healthcare, and improved living conditions are essential to safeguard the welfare and survival of the animals currently at the park.
“The department must be empowered with the required resources to restore the facilities and guarantee acceptable animal welfare standards,” the committee noted in its report. It added that immediate intervention would help stabilize the situation and prevent further deterioration of the park’s infrastructure and wildlife care systems.
Beyond restoring the park, the committee also recommended adopting a broader, multisectoral strategy to transform Kanilai Wildlife Park into a fully developed tourist nature attraction. The proposed approach would involve collaboration between several government institutions, including agencies responsible for tourism, environmental protection, and wildlife conservation.
Committee members believe that, if properly managed and developed, the park could become a significant eco-tourism destination that attracts both domestic and international visitors while promoting environmental education and conservation awareness.
In addition to structural reforms, the committee made a strong policy recommendation regarding the future management of wildlife resources in the country. It urged the government to prohibit the operation of wildlife assets as private or personalized facilities under any circumstances.
Instead, the report calls for all wildlife resources to remain under statutory state management, subject to transparent regulation and oversight by relevant public institutions. The committee noted that this measure would help prevent mismanagement and ensure that wildlife conservation remains a national responsibility rather than a private undertaking.
The recommendations are expected to guide government action in the coming months as authorities review the report and determine the steps needed to implement the proposed reforms.
Observers say the committee’s proposals, if implemented, could mark an important step toward strengthening wildlife protection, improving animal welfare, and developing sustainable eco-tourism opportunities centered around the Kanilai Wildlife Park.
