By Fatima Saka
The Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) in Anambra and Enugu communities, has raised awareness on safety and strong protection of vultures in the states.
The Head of Communications of the foundation, Mr Oladapo Soneye, said this in an interview, on Friday, in Abuja.
According to Soneye, the NCF had embarked on sensitising and empowering the two states in their various communities for protection and conservation of vulture in their localities.
The objective of the sensitisation was to improve and enhance the capabilities and skills of interested volunteers in monitoring of vulture within “Vulture Save Zone” (VSZ) in the states.
He said that the commitment was to engage those who had volunteered to monitor the VSZ such as market women association, youth groups, community leaders among others.
He said that the sensitisations were focused on Awka Ekiti and Idemili South Local Government Areas (LGAs).
“The same meeting was hosted with 38 individuals in various communities at Ihe Awgu LGA of Enugu State,“essentially, the purpose was to educate the communities on the benefits of the species existence to them.” Soneye said.
He also said the volunteers were given data-sheet and trained on relevant field data related to the population and habitat monitoring.
“They were encouraged to carryout regular field monitoring and community sensitisation within the locality to promote the conservation need of the vultures in the areas,” he added.
He said that NCF and the communities had collaborated with Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Custom Service, among others within the states to ensure effective enforcement in the areas.
He said that the collaboration would enhance the enforcement to aid proper arrest of the illegal hunters or farmers encroaching the protected habitats of the birds in the community.
“The leaders expressed readiness and commitment to work effectively, in order to achieve the mandates and objectives.” He said.