Wildlife Weekly

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Parrots are among the world's most intelligent and traded wildlife species. In Nigeria, they are affected

by habitat loss, a bustling pet trade online, and wildlife markets for their parts. Their feathers are used in

traditional attire decoration as a symbol of status. In 2016, the Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species (CITES) banned the trade of African Grey Parrots.

In 2023, the Nigeria Customs Service said its officers intercepted 105 parrots and other birds from

Katsina State to Benin Republic worth N24 million. This included 60 Green parrots, 14 Budgerigar

Parrots, six Eastern Rosella Parrots, two Macaw Parrots, one White Cockatoo Parrots, and four Rose

Ringed Parakeet Parrots.

Yet, the sale of Parrots continues unabated in Nigeria, which demands our immediate attention. They

are reportedly sold in a popular market in Lagos and paraded for sale on one of Nigeria’s most

prominent e-commerce stores, Jiji.

Every May 31st is World Parrot Day, which reminds us of parrots' crucial role in ecosystems and the

need to protect their habitats. Originating from various regions across the globe, parrots play an

essential role in their environment, helping to disperse seeds in forests and even aiding pollination.

Also, for this report, Ifeanyi Ezenwa, the Nigerian director of World Parrot Trust, an organization

working to protect parrots in Nigeria, will be interviewed. The conversation will explore the urgent plight

of parrots in Nigeria and the crucial steps we can take to reverse this trend and save them.

Nigeria’s coastal waters are home to five species of sea turtles, including the critically endangered

Hawksbill and Leatherback turtles. Yet, they face severe threats from poaching, plastic pollution, and

bycatch in fishing nets.

Doyinsola Ogunye is a conservationist based in Lagos, Nigeria. She founded the first sustainable beach in

Lagos, the Kids Beach Garden, to teach children about the importance of caring for nature while

showing them the need to teach life and environmental lessons through occasional beach clean-ups.

While cleaning the beach, she quickly learned that Lagos’s coastal area is home to endangered turtle species, including the Leatherback, Green, and Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. In addition to being killed by ingesting plastics, these turtles are actively targeted by poachers who sell them for meat.

So, she started saving turtles and educating coastal communities about conserving them, which is crucial for ensuring food security. In addition to being killed by ingesting plastics, Turtles are actively targeted by poachers who sell them for meat.

Bats play a crucial role in pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control; however, they are often

misunderstood and persecuted because of superstitions and fears. In Nigeria, bats are frequently

hunted for bushmeat, and some species are at risk from deforestation and cave destruction. For this

episode, and in honor of International Bat Appreciation Day, the presenter will discuss debunking myths

and highlighting the ecological importance of bats.

Nigeria has 100 bat species, one-third of Africa’s bat diversity. Dedicated bat conservation in Nigeria

began in 2012, with monitoring and roost protection of the Straw-colored Fruit bat. Since then, bat

conservation in Nigeria has expanded to include two additional species: the Egyptian roulette fruit bat

(Rousettus aegyptiacus) and the Short-tailed round leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros curtus).

Intense hunting of large-bodied fruit bats for food is reported across West Africa, and Nigeria allows bat

hunting.

Efforts to protect roosts and conservation outreach programs to involve communities in conserving bats

are ongoing. Both fruit bat species are primary seed dispersers and pollinators, so steep population

declines jeopardize valuable ecosystem services, forest regeneration, and ecosystem health.

Additionally, Nigerians have a negative perception of bats. They see them as witches, and sometimes

say bats represent a bad omen.

Forests cover one-third of the earth land mass, perform vital functions, and support the livelihoods of

1.6 billion people. They are essential for human survival, but human activity has damaged them. Every

year, approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed.

Forests are home to more than half of the world’s land-based animals, plants, and insects. They combat

climate change because of their capacity to remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it, which is

called forest mitigation. Forests also buffer the impacts of storms and floods. By feeding our rivers,

forests supply drinking water for nearly half of the world’s largest cities. They also provide shelter, jobs,

and security for forest-dependent populations.

Every March 21st is International Day of the Forest. The 2025 International Day of Forests theme was

"Forests and Foods", a theme chosen to highlight the role of forests in food security, nutrition, and

sustainable livelihoods, especially in host communities living closer to forests. This year’s theme

promotes biodiversity and climate change mitigation due to forest protection.

The first weekly wildlife episode will speak to the project coordinator at the Olokemeji Forest Reserve

Restoration project - managed by IITA Forest Centre. Situated between the Nigerian mega-cities of

Abeokuta and Ibadan, the Olokemeji Forest Reserve spans about 5,900 hectares and is one of southwest

Africa's largest forest reserves that has suffered severe degradation due to unsustainable exploitation

and farming practices.

But with the restoration project, which involves replanting trees and enforcement efforts that have

reduced illegal logging inside the forest reserve.

In addition, and most importantly, IITA forest centre launched sustainable socio-economic programmes

like bee-keeping, empowering former loggers and hunters to participate in the project.

This episode will speak with the Olokemeji Forest Reserve project coordinator to discuss the intersection

between forest, food and wildlife protection.

On World Wildlife Day, the Nigerian government, the private sector, and conservation organizations areencouraged to support wildlife conservation initiatives to preserve Nigeria’s iconic species.

This year’s theme, “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet,” emphasizes theessential role of innovative funding in protecting biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future for bothnature and humanity