Pangolin Conservation Working Group Nigeria (PCWGN) has collaborated with other conservation stakeholders to discourage poaching, hunting, and trafficking of pangolins, while calling for the amendment and better enforcement of existing conservation laws in the country.
The Chairman and convener, PCWGN, Olajumoke Morenikeji, at an event organized by the body, in collaboration with the US Consulate, One Health Development Initiative (OHDI), and the Wildlife of Africa Conservation Initiative (WACI), disclosed that pangolins are the most smuggled mammal in the world because of their meat and scales.
PCWGN works mainly to ensure that pangolins are protected in Nigeria through research, awareness creation, relevant collaborations, rehabilitation and release of Pangolins to protected forest areas.
PCWGN Advocates for Severe Punishment for Wildlife Traffickers
The group collaborates with other relevant organizations in Nigeria to undertake in scientific research to learn more about Pangolins, their ecology and breeding, and devising appropriate conservation actions.
The Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, represented by the Director General of National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Aliyu Jauro, disclosed that the country is set to sign a Cooperation Framework Agreement on Transboundary Ecosystem Conservation and Sustainable Management of Forestry and Wildlife Resources with Cameroun.
PCGN Urges FG to Intensify Efforts in Impeding Pangolin Traffickers
In his keynote address, the Conservator-general, National Park Service, Ibrahim Goni, made it known that in order to enhance efforts and commitment to tackling illegal wildlife trade in the country, President Muhammadu Buhari had recently approved the establishment of 10 new national parks.
Jenny Foltz, a representative from the department of Public Affairs, United States consulate, Lagos, noted that the consulate would work closely with the country to train enforcement agencies on how to identify pangolins and the traffickers of pangolin meat and scales.
