Hunt bushmeat, go to jail —NCF

THE Nigerian Conservation Federation (NCF) has warned that anyone found guilty of exploitation and commercial hunting of wild animals risked 10-year imprisonment with an option of N1million fine or both.

According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) the Director-General of the federation, Mr Adeniyi Karunwi, gave the warning in Ibadan on Saturday at a workshop organised by the Pangolins Conservation Working Group, Nigeria.

The workshop organised in collaboration with National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), South West Zone and entitled Speak Up for Pangolins was in commemoration of 2017 World Pangolins Day.

“Our environment is in danger; a lot of wild animals like pangolins are at the risk of going into extinction and there is over-exploitation of these animals. “People need to know that exploitation and commercialisation of wildlife identified under Schedule 1 of the Endangered Species Amendment Act is a criminal offence that attracts a 10-year jail term,” Karunwi said.

According to him, conservation of wildlife is important in order to promote ecological tourism to the country.

On her part, Dr Olajumoke Morenikeji, Coordinator, Pangolin Conservation Working Group, said that pangolins risked going into extinction, because they were the most illegally hunted and traded mammals.

Morenikeji, who is an Environmental biologist, said that pangolins were illegally traded for their scales, meat and body parts which were in high demand in Asia, especially in China and Vietnam.

“Pangolins’ meat is considered a delicacy, while their scales are used in traditional medicine and folk remedies to treat a range of ailments.

“There is insatiable demand for pangolin scales, especially in China where they are used for traditional medicines.

“There is a belief that the scales have curative properties like keratin and can be used to treat skin diseases.”