Nigeria’s Elephant Population Under Severe Threat

Nigeria’s minister of state for Environment, Iziaq Salako, has said the population of elephants in Nigeria has declined by 86 per cent over the last 30 years. The population is estimated to be about 400, and Salako said it could worsen unless something is done.

He said elephants are critical ecosystem engineers, forest gardeners, and seed dispersers. They support the growth of flora and fauna and foster biodiversity, in addition to making eco-tourism contributions to the economy.

” Nigeria’s elephant population is under severe threat, particularly the small, isolated populations of forest elephants, which are believed to reproduce much more slowly than savanna elephants and are even more vulnerable to poaching than previously thought,” Dr Salako said yesterday at the launching of Nigeria’s National Elephant Action Plan (NEAP) in Abuja.

He said now is the time to change the narrative, considering the worrisome revelation and the recent incidences of elephant captures and killings in some parts of the country. He said yesterday that these are in addition to numerous other threats, including habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching.

Salako said the action plan is designed to be a tool for planning and monitoring elephant conservation measures and will serve as a framework for the strategies and decision-making of all relevant government institutions, donor agencies and NGOs.

He said it will provide the necessary strategic framework for coordinating all actors involved in elephant conservation and management, including government institutions, NGOs/INGOs, private sector partners and the local communities around elephant habitats. The document is designed to be flexible and evolve strategies with new threats, challenges, and opportunities. It emphasises habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, community engagement, and sustainable management practices, thus creating a harmonious coexistence between humans and elephants and ensuring both can thrive.

Also, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Mahmud Kambari, said the elephant action plan is a testament to the government’s dedication to safeguarding the iconic species. “This comprehensive plan

stems from the collaborative effort, bringing together government agencies, conservation organisations, local communities, and international partners to work towards a common goal. As we launch this action plan, we reaffirm our commitment to a sustainable future where humans and wildlife coexist harmoniously,” he stated.