Enhancing Wildlife Protection Laws in Nigeria.

Ibadan Malimbe- The Endangered Songbird originally from Ibadan

Every November, the international Bird festival celebrates birds. This year's event focuses on creating awareness about an extremely rare songbird, The Ibadan Malimbe at IITA. The bird is only found near the city of Ibadan and its environment. it has bright red feathers on the top of its head, and black feathers cover its body. Once widespread throughout the region, the Ibadan Malimbe population is estimated to have declined by 66% since the 1970s due to widespread disforestation. Data from recent surveys conclude that about 2,469 individuals remain in the wild.

Enhancing Wildlife Protection Laws in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s current wildlife law is old and inconsistent with international standards. Besides, it has weak penalties and provides little or no deterrence for wildlife criminals. This story will examine the economic losses caused by wildlife crime, the potential for eco-tourism, and the importance of preserving biodiversity in Nigeria. We will set up interviews with the organizations at the frontline of pushing for a new law, the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill, 2024. The bill passed its second reading, and a public hearing was held in Nigeria’s House of Representatives in October 2024.Championed by Hon. Terseer Ugbor, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Environment: The Bill tackles pressing challenges such as illegal wildlife trade, species conservation, and the decline of Nigeria’s precious wildlife and their habitats. The bill also seeks to improve the capabilities of law enforcement agencies, give investigator smore powers to look into financial matters and conduct operations guided by intelligence, and enable judges to speed up wildlife cases and recover assets. Additionally, it aligns with international treaties, encourages global cooperation, and introduces stricter penalties for poachers and traffickers. The new law will introduce stricter penalties for wildlife trafficking, including hefty fines and imprisonment, empowering law enforcement agencies to take decisive action against those involved in illegal activities.

World Vulture Day: Why Are Vultures Vanishing in Nigeria?

Vulture populations on the African continent have plummeted catastrophically over the last 50 years, with some species declining by as much as 97%. Seven of the eleven African vulture species are at risk of extinction. These majestic birds are now faced with extinction, with some species for the continent declining up to 97% over the last 50 years. Today, 7 out of 11 African vulture species are threatened with extinction due to various threats. Poisoning is the major cause of vulture mortalities, accounting for more than 60% of vulture deaths on the continent. In some instances, poachers lace carcasses with poison to kill vultures as they alert authorities of poaching activities. In other cases, vultures are killed unintentionally when herders lace carcasses with poison to kill predators in retaliatory killings, and vultures die after feeding on these carcasses This report will investigate the reasons for the dwindling vulture population. It would highlight the ecological consequences of losing vultures and the potential public health risks associated with unregulated traditional medicine practices. The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has been engaging traditional healers intending to raise awareness about plant-based alternatives to vulture parts. Since October 2019, these meetings have been held in the northern states of Sokoto Kano and Yobe, and the southern state of Ogun. More than 80 traditional healers have taken part in these events. Recently, NCF created Vulture Safe Zone Activities in Anambra State to support community-based monitoring and conservation of the vulture population. This report will look at the direct link between the demand for vulture parts in traditional medicine and the dwindling vulture population. It would highlight the ecological consequences of losing vultures and the potential public health risks associated with unregulated traditional medicine practices. This episode will feature Dr Stella Egbe, Species Conservation Manager - Nigeria Conservation Foundation.

World Rangers Day

July 31 is World Ranger Day, which honors the dedication and crucial work rangers do daily around the globe. The day offers an opportunity to commemorate Rangers killed or injured in the line of duty and celebrate Rangers' critical work to protect the world’s natural and cultural treasures. A World Wildlife Fund (WWF) survey reveals that one in seven wildlife rangers (14 percent) surveyed across Asia and Central Africa have been seriously injured at work within the last 12 months. The results, part of the largest-ever survey on ranger employment conditions and welfare, come as the official death toll from July 2017-18 has been confirmed by the International Ranger Federation (IRF) & Thin Green Line Foundation (TGLF) as 107 – up from 101 last year. This brings the total number of reported rangers who have lost their lives in the line of duty to 871 since 2009. This episode will focus on the plight of rangers, their passion for their work, why they chose it, and the challenges they face in the line of duty. This year, the focus will be shifted to park rangers who are guardians of Nigeria’s beautiful national parks - to understand their work, their challenges, and how they overcome them.

World Zoonosis Day - Protecting humans from zoonotic diseases

Every July, the world observes World Zoonoses Day, a special day to create awareness about diseases that originate in animals and can be transmitted to humans. It is estimated that 60% of infectious diseases and up to 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted from animals to humans. The transmitted agents of the infection could be any bacterial, viral, or parasitic pathogen. In the last decade, Nigeria has experienced zoonotic disease outbreaks such as the Ebola virus in 2014 and, recently, COVID-19, monkeypox, and Lassa fever, killing thousands of people in their wake. Typically, zoonotic transmission and events spread through contact with animals. Nigeria has a bustling bushmeat trade, which makes the country susceptible to zoonotic disease outbreaks. Africa faces a growing risk as it deals with population growth, rapid urbanization, deforestation, and the commercial bushmeat trade. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of zoonotic outbreaks, such as Ebola and monkeypox diseases, in the region from 2012 to 2022 has increased by 63% compared to the previous decade (2001 to 2011). In the last 24 months, several infectious disease outbreaks have been recorded in Africa and across the world, including these major zoonotic disease outbreaks: COVID-19 pandemic Anthrax Marburg virus Monkeypox (Mpox) Ebola Yellow fever Lassa fever The recent outbreaks of anthrax, monkeypox (now known as Mpox), and Marburg virus in some parts of Africa as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, serve as a reminder that zoonotic diseases continue to pose a significant threat to our health, economies and global security. The Nigerian government recently issued an advisory warning citizens to desist from consuming bushmeat in the immediate aftermath of the outbreak of anthrax — believed to have spread from animals — in northern Ghana. This episode discusses World Zoonosis Day and how best to protect endangered species and avoid contact with humans, which typically leads to zoonotic events like Ebola, Monkeypox, or Lassa Fever. This episode features Dr Stella Egbe, Species Conservation Manager - Nigeria Conservation Foundation.