TheCable

WildAid, a global non-profit organisation, has asked Nigerians to protect lions as the animal is now on the verge of extinction in the country.

On Wednesday, to mark the World Lion Day, the organisation launched a weeklong campaign to raise awareness about the threats facing lions in the country

In a statement, the organisation said the event is to celebrate one of the world’s most beautiful, fearsome and iconic species.

WildAid added that over the last 50 years, the number of wild lions across Africa has plummeted from 200,000 to roughly 20,000, adding that the crisis is most acute in West Africa where there are only about 400 lions left, surviving in small, isolated clusters.

It added that scientists estimated that there may be fewer than 50 adult lions left in the wild, unlike in the past when lions roamed northern Nigeria in large numbers.

“Hunting for bushmeat has seriously depleted lions’ natural prey base, while population growth and the expansion of agricultural land has badly eaten into their habitats,” said Simon Denyer, senior Africa representative for WildAid.

“Lions in Nigeria and across West Africa need urgent help to prevent them from disappearing forever.”

According to WildAid, the intense pressures on lions’ natural prey caused by the bushmeat trade and the erosion of their habitats often force them to kill cattle for food.

“That in turn brings lions into conflict with humans, who kill lions in retaliation, sometimes using poison. Snares and traps set by bushmeat hunters also often inadvertently catch lions and other predators,” the organisation noted.

Kelechukwu Iruoma, WildAid Nigeria representative, said: “It is not too late to save Nigeria’s lions but we need to act now to protect them. We urge the Nigerian government to update its wildlife laws to combat the threats facing lions and other wildlife.”

“It is also important to improve enforcement and anti-poaching patrols around national parks, including working with communities around the parks to stop the illegal bushmeat trade.

“Other stakeholders also need to collaborate to raise awareness of the need to protect the country’s remaining lions, and to promote wildlife conservation and tourism, creating jobs and revenue.”

In January, WildAid launched a public awareness conservation campaign in Nigeria to highlight the illegal bushmeat trade and support enforcement activities to tackle the illegal wildlife trade.