‘Consumption of bush meat threatens wildlife population’
Nigerian Conservationists have expressed concerns as growing appetite for bush meat among urban residents in Nigeria and surrounding countries threatens wildlife populations and increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission.
They called on a reduction in demand for ‘bushmeat’ and an increase in education campaigns on wildlife conservation, improving the communication of wildlife laws, strengthening law enforcement, providing and publicising sustainable alternatives to high-risk bushmeat species.
Wildlife in Nigeria faces a number of threats from poaching for body parts and meat, to habitat loss due to deforestation, infrastructure development, and agriculture expansion. Nigeria’s populations of lions currently stands at 50, Elephants between 169 to 463, Gorillas 100, and Chimpanzees 1,400 to 2,300 are fast declining, and some species like the Pangolins are either endangered or on the brink of extinction.
The group made these recommendations at the launch of a report by WildAID on bushmeat consumption in Nigerian cities conducted in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) in Lagos.
The forum also featured the unveiling of Wildlife consumption reduction ambassador, Stephanie Lynus, a Nigerian actress.
Speaking at the launch of the report, West African representative for WildAID, Linus Unah explained that the study is designed to guide future conservation initiatives by establishing baseline data on attitudes, values, motivations, and behaviors of urban buyers, users, and intended users of bush meat.
He revealed that the consumption also overlaps with illegal trade networks fuelling the trade in protected species like elephants and pangolins.
The Chief Executive Officer, WildAID, USA, Peter Knights who spoke virtually emphasized that people should reduce the demand for wildlife as 75 per cent of new diseases originate from animals particularly wildlife.
The representative of the Director-General, Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Stephen Aina on his part explained that the high rate of bushmeat consumption could lead to total eradication of species of animals in a given location and their ecosystem services may be lost if the animals go into extinction.
Aina who is the coordinator, Species Programme for NCF lamented that the society’s belief-based system and age-long use of wildlife have widened the hunt for wildlife for human consumption.
In his remarks, Wildlife Vet and Conservationist, Dr. Mark Ofua said it was regrettable that the concept of protected species has become a paradox in Nigeria as such animals are no longer protected by existing laws due to poor enforcement. He said animals such as Pangolins and Sea Tortoise are still sold in open markets in the country unhindered.
