Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) has urged the Federal Government to pass legislation to protect the country’s elephants.
Project Officer, Finima (Bonny) Nature Park, Mr Shitu Usman, made the announcement on Thursday in Ngo, Andoni Local Government Area, Rivers, as the organization commemorated World Elephant Day.
He stated that the call was necessary in order to safeguard the ecology and ensure that the wild animals were not harmed.
“Wild creatures are part of our cultural past, and they can help local communities promote tourism, employment, development, and enterprises.
“While other African countries, such as Kenya, are already benefiting from ecotourism, our country has the potential to increase its national economy through tourism as well,” he stated.
Usman emphasized the importance of elephant conservation in the Andoni local area council.
“The government should begin by gazetteing a safe region in the forest for elephants and other wild species, because they would become extinct if we do not conserve their habitat,” he cautioned.
Earlier, Mr Erastus Awortu, Chairman, Andoni local government area, expressed gratitude to the NCF for its initiatives through Mr Talick Dandison, the council’s Chief of Staff.
The chairman pledged to support efforts aimed at promoting ecotourism, to boost the area’s internal revenue as well as nation`s GDP.
“The council will support the tourism initiative of NCF in collaboration with a non-governmental organization, Save Andoni Forest Elephant Initiative, to preserve elephants and wildlife in our forest,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Gogo Ujile, Executive Director, Save Andoni Forest Elephant Initiative, said the foundation in collaboration with the NCF will work to ensure the preservation of elephants and forests in the area.
Ujile said that the foundation had met with community leaders and local hunters to sensitise them against hunting wild animals and logging.
“Today, we have extended our campaign to primary and secondary schools in Andoni as part of the global Elephant Day celebration,“ he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Elephant Day is an annual celebration to create awareness on the preservation of elephants.
Highlight of the event was the inauguration of wildlife conservation clubs in primary and secondary schools in the area.