In a bid to safeguard the ecosystem and raise awareness about the dire consequences of illegal wildlife trade, the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) at the University of Lagos has joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 2024 World Pangolin Day 2.0.
With the theme, “Exploring the Dark Web: Unveiling the Underground Trade in Endangered Species,” the event was organized by SER and the Pangolin Research Group on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at the UNILAG Museum of Natural History.
The hybrid event attracted participants from various parts of the world, including pupils from the University of Lagos Staff School and the University of Lagos Women Society (ULWS) School.
In his address, the Lead Researcher of the Society of Ecological Restoration, University of Lagos, Dr. Excellence Akeredolu remarked that the celebration is unique because it calls attention of all stakeholders to the illegal wildlife trade, which poses significant threat to the survival of pangolins and to the delicate balance of the ecosystems. He stressed the moral obligation to protect and conserve these remarkable species and their habitats.
His words: “The rampant and unscrupulous trafficking of these remarkable creatures, driven by the insatiable demand for their scales and meat, has pushed them to the brink of extinction with no sign of abatement. It is our moral duty, as custodians of this planet, to protect and conserve these incredible species and the ecosystem they inhabit.”
He also called for a need to bridge the gap between research and action, by providing law enforcement agencies with vital information that can help them tackle the challenges posed by illegal wildlife trade in Nigeria.
The University of Kent Alumnus opined that the situation calls for collective action and a united front with the understanding that wildlife conservation is not a solidarity endeavour.
According to him, “We stand together to declare our commitment to empower those who have the power to enforce the law. By working hand in hand, we can ensure that the dark web of illegal wildlife trade is dismantled”.
In a virtual presentation, a researcher from the University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Jen Tinsman, explained the importance of the mammalian anteaters. She hinted that the creature’s numbers are rapidly declining in Asia and Africa due to poaching and illegal hunting.
According to her, across the world, there are eight species ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered. To that end, awareness of these under-appreciated animals which will save Pangolins from extinction and the ecosystem must be improved.
Her presentation revealed that out of 1.1 million seized Pangolin products, 955,353 were made from individual species originating from Africa. Asia recorded the highest number of seizures in terms of anti-trafficking efforts, followed by Africa, with Europe occupying the third position. Nigeria ranked third in the chart of countries’ efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade and trafficking.
Her words: “The Pangolins provide the earth with natural pest control. It is said that a single Pangolin eats as much as 70 million insects per year which is important to keep soils aerated, tender and fertile”
Dr. Tinsman, who is a forensic wildlife biologist, further advocated for closer collaboration among African nations in the fight against illegal wildlife trade, as it has become one of the hotspots for the poaching of the scaly-mammals.
Giving her recommendations, she admonished the Nigerian government to focus on inspecting and enforcing all cargo shipments from wildlife trade and trafficking hotspots such as Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. She also emphasized the need for enhanced capacity in testing confiscated wildlife samples to determine their origins, which is crucial for effective anti-trafficking efforts.
Dr. Tinsman, who is an expert in intensive research in wildlife conservation, noted that the partnership with the University of Lagos, hopes to uncover groundbreaking insights that will pave the way for effective strategies in combating illegal wildfire trade.
The World Pangolin Day is celebrated annually on the third week of February. It affords an opportunity for Pangolin enthusiasts to come together in raising awareness about the fate of the Pangolin as an endangered animal.
Report: Bayo Salau
Photograph: Islamiat Akanni
