Worried by the rate at which pangolins are being illegally traded globally, experts have called on all concern, including the government at all levels to protect this mammal from going into extinction. The stakeholders at a forum to celebrate this year’s world pangolin day organised by the Pangolin Conservation Guild of Nigeria (PCGN) advocated for a proper conservation of animals, especially pangolins, stating that the extinction of such animals portends grave danger to the ecosystem and human existence.
The Chair of PCGN, Olajumoke Morenikeji, while speaking at the forum, noted that the guild would keep on educating the populace and creating awareness of pangolin and wildlife conservation to safeguard the environment. She said that this mammal was very crucial to the environment and must, therefore, be prevented from going into extinction, stressing that it would go extinct if care is not taken, as she said that Pangolins can only be found on two continents – Asia and Africa. According to her, “Pangolins are so important to the ecosystem and environment. One pangolin is estimated to consume about 70 million insects in one year. Those insects include crop pests and those that bring down buildings like termites.
“Pangolin activities on the soil help to aerate the soil, thus helping the plants to grow better. When pangolins dig a burrow, they leave places for other animals to inhabit. Our business is to make sure that the animals do not go into extinction”. She pointed out that there are reports of huge numbers of pangolin scales, translating to the killing of thousands of pangolins, being taken away from Nigeria, saying “What we are doing is also for our benefit, because there is no way human beings will exist on earth, if they remove all the trees, animals and everything around them; we will not last long before we all go extinct as well”.
The Vice-Consular of the United States Consulate-General, Lagos, Christina Connelly-Kanmaz, while speaking stated that the United States, through its various agencies and partnerships in Nigeria, was deeply committed to wildlife conservation and the fight against illegal wildlife trafficking, which poses significant threats to pangolins. “Pangolins are not just an integral part of our biodiversity, but also a testament to our ecosystem’s intricate balance”, she said. The Director-General of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan, Zachariah Yaduma, who was represented by Kehinde Solomon of the Animal Production and Wildlife Management, stated that food security and survival of human beings would be a mirage, if pangolins do not survive.
He said that the programme was apt as it focused on the protection, conservation as well as preservation of the environment and wildlife, especially pangolins. According to him, “Pests are rampant, and destructive to crops. It is the work of pangolins to eliminate the destructive work of pests and diseases. Pangolins eat a lot of insects and, in a way, protect the crops. That means, if pangolins don’t survive, the issue of food security will be a mirage. Therefore, pangolins must be protected. “Our people are being educated on the need to ensure that pangolins survive. Generally, we are advocating that animals must be protected in their natural environment,” he added.
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