To address the conflicts between humans and elephants, Nigeria has launched the National Elephant Action Plan (NEAP) with the intention of reversing the decline of this critically endangered animal species.
Nigeria is one of Africa’s relatively few countries with forests and savanna elephants. Sadly, however, this population has deteriorated over the years due to ivory demand and habitat loss. According to a study conducted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2016, this ugly trend has reduced the population of this iconic species from an estimated 1,500 to 400 individuals and is on the verge of extinction.
Stakeholders who spoke at the event, organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI) in Abuja on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, want to see more commitment to elephant conservation in the country.
While acknowledging this persistent and horrible crisis, Nigeria’s environment minister of state, Dr. Iziaq Salako, stated that the unveiling of NEAP represents the government’s strong commitment and resolve to continue protecting the country’s natural resources, including its wildlife, not only for nature and humanity but also for long-term economic development.
The minister cited the National Strategy to Combat Wildlife and Forest Crime (NSCWFC) and the draft Bill on Endangered Species Conservation and Protection (ESCP 2024), which is currently in the National Assembly, as additional efforts that show the government’s determination to tackle the problem.
According to him, elephants are part of our history and heritage in Nigeria and the nation’s world-famous culture. He said these rare animals have a vital role to play in maintaining ecological balance, serving as forest gardeners, and helping spread seeds, all of which promote biodiversity and the expansion of flora and fauna. Many cultures, he added, rely on them for a living, particularly through eco-tourism.
“Sadly, in our country, they have suffered 86 percent population decline over the last 30 years, with the population of elephants in Nigeria estimated to be about 400 as of 2021,” the nation’s minister of state for the environment said.
He assured that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Environment and other partner agencies would continue to frontally confront poaching and illegal trade in wildlife, including elephants. So, he urged all Nigerians to join hands with the government to create a future where elephants roam freely across “our forests for us and future generations to enjoy and marvel at their majestic spectacle.”
Chief Sharon Ikeazor, the Chairperson of the Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI), Leadership Council, believes that the success of NEAP hinges on stakeholders’ collective efforts, and it is only through sustained partnerships and unwavering dedication that the objective of the plan can be translated into its physical reality.
The former Minister of State for the Environment also said that Nigeria must leverage the power of education and public awareness because changing attitudes and behaviours is crucial if the country is to win the fight against poaching and illegal wildlife trade.
She noted that NEAP was thoroughly developed by the EPI, working together with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Nigerian governments through the Federal Ministry of Environment, because stakeholders are resolute to save Nigeria’s remaining elephants.
“We are determined to save Nigeria’s remaining elephants and enhance the economic benefits of their conservation for our people who live near and around the elephants because these iconic animals fulfil not only a vital ecological role but are also embedded in our country’s history and culture,” the EPI, leadership council chairperson, stated.
Andrew Dunn, WCS Nigeria’s Country Director, lamented the fact that Nigeria remains a major transit hub for illegal wildlife products, including nearly a quarter of the world’s seized ivory. He said the West African country has already lost 99% of its elephants due to poaching and habitat destruction.
“Saving Nigeria’s last elephants will require more than just funds; it will require a significant change in attitude at all levels and a paradigm shift by federal and state governments towards a realisation that human wellbeing and global health are inextricably linked to biodiversity loss and climate change,” Dunn, who coordinated the writing of the comprehensive NEAP, said.
The NEAP is a 10-year strategic plan (2024-2034) developed to ensure the long-term survival of elephants in Nigeria. Its key objectives include reducing illegal elephant killings and trade through harmonised state and federal wildlife laws and enhanced law enforcement, maintaining elephant habitats through land-use planning, and creating wildlife corridors to mitigate conflicts with communities.
John Scanlon AO, the CEO of the EPI Foundation, which supported the process, said: “The situation of Nigeria’s elephants is desperate but not hopeless. This plan offers us a last chance to conserve these magnificent animals.”
Nigeria’s largest elephant population is in Yankari Game Reserve, with smaller relict populations in the forests of southern Nigeria and a transboundary herd of roughly 250 elephants using the savannah of north-eastern Nigeria as part of their range.
By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja
