The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), on Tuesday expressed worry over pangolin specie going into extinction, calling on all Nigerians to take urgent action in conserving remaining species.
Mr Oladapo Soneye, Head, Communications of the foundation, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
Soneye said that all the eight species of pangolin are under so much threat that they could go into extinction shortly if drastic steps are not taken.
“Pangolin has been discovered currently as the most trafficked mammal globally.
“The foundation is calling on the whole world, not only Nigerians, to raise public awareness on the endangered status of pangolins, that are threatened by poaching and deforestation of their natural habitats.
“An estimated one million pangolins have been taken from the wild illegally in globally,’’ he said.
He said if no actions are taken urgently, the earth might lose its only scaly mammal and soil aeration to the incessant cruelty of pangolin smugglers.
“Stop the killing, stop the trading, let all well-meaning Nigerians and relevant stakeholders be committed to the creation of civic awareness for proactive actions to conserve and combat trafficking in specimens of pangolins, while also appraising and celebrating milestones attained in the global push towards Pangolin conservation,’’ he said.
Soneye explained that pangolins play a critical role in the ecosystems by providing the earth with natural pest control.
According to him, a single pangolin eats as much as 70 million insects per year, which is important to keep soils aerated, tender and fertile.
He said at the rate they are locally sourced, packaged and routed through Nigeria for international markets, the occasional seizures reported are cogent to motivate support and participation of identified stakeholders.
Soneye said between 2016 and 2019, more seizures were made by law enforcement worldwide, with more than half of this linked to Nigeria.
He added that in July 2021, officials of Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) made the third-largest seizure of pangolin scales inside the country.
“This year, several seizures have been made. The recklessness of human activities against pangolin and other wildlife will not only drive the species into extinction but continue to bring epidemic and eventual pandemic,’’ he said.
(NAN)