Energy & Environment

Hunting the hunters out of extinction

Nature lovers, especially those addicted to wildlife documentaries in the African safari, delight in watching lions idling underneath centuries old acacias readying for an afternoon snooze after making short work of a buffalo brought down to feed the pride. They are no less feral in protecting a choice water spot from wandering warthogs or timid Thomson’s gazelles.

Either stalking prey or relaxing, at play or mastering the jungle where they are kings, lions are one of the most elegant beasts on the face of the earth. Alas, their contact with man has made life precarious for them in the last couple of decades bringing their numbers down sharply to an incredible 50 in the whole of Nigeria.

Compared to other African countries, Nigeria has a dismal record in the number of big cats remaining in the wild or in conservation parks. Available records show that leopards, lions and cheetahs are the most endangered.

Ever since the World Wildlife Day was conceived in December 1983 during the 68th convention of the United Nations General Assembly, humanity has shown considerable concern for the survival of flora and fauna. Consequently, the need to recognize the importance of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species was ratified.

Even so, the number of big cats threatened in the wild has been in the front burner. Last year, for instance, the theme of World Wildlife was “Listen to the Young Voices” to ensure realization of CITES objective in the 182 member states of the UN. In furtherance of that theme, member states dwelled on “Big Cats – Predators under Threat.”

At a conference on the depleting wildlife, Mrs. Amina Mohammed, former Minister of Environment but now with World Wildlife confessed thus: “The status of wildlife in the country leaves much to be desired, as the rate of depletion of the population of animals like the elephants, leopards, giraffes and crocodiles, amongst others, is frightening. Today I know that if somebody says, what is really the status, or figures for wildlife in Nigeria? I am not sure I can tell you as the Minister of Environment. And if I am going to say something, it is probably 10 years old in terms of its information and data.”

The condition of big cats in Nigeria today, according to statistics “is even more dire.” following the recent publication of the IUCN red list of globally threatened species which revealed that 148 animals and 146 plant species found in Nigeria were threatened at various degrees including some species near extinction.

Human activities like hunting, grazing, land deforestation, mining, infrastructural construction, aerodromes, power lines, and related activities have destroyed our wildlife flora and fauna than natural factors like climate change and fire occurrences by over 40% in the last 25 years. Another adjoining factor is that occupants of host communities earmarked as protected areas see their surrounding areas as traditional hunting grounds.

To preserve the life of the beasts, experts insist that Nigeria “must take a cue from smaller countries like Gabon with 13 well-managed national parks, Egypt with 25 national parks and Kenya with 23 national parks only aside game reserves, wildlife sanctuary and other forms of protected areas in countries like Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania and Madagascar.”

Also, they admit there is a need for the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to create an operational synergy between associated government and non-government stakeholders. Apart from the collaborative effort of NGOs and ministries in Nigeria, stakeholders should “strengthen the National Park Service to enhance their capacity for wildlife conservation and protection; Increase awareness and education on the intrinsic value of wildlife to the society; Swift and clear penalties to illegal poachers and hunters to mitigate further illegal harvesting of wildlife; Infrastructural development plans to incorporate the wildlife protection /survival programme through effective Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.”

If these measures are put in place, then Nigeria can restore Nigeria’s wildlife heritage and give a voice to the younger ones!

 

Monday Ashibogwu

Monday Michaels Ashibogwu is Editor-In-Chief of QUICK NEWS AFRICA, one of Nigeria's leading online news service.

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