Leading figures in Nigerian music, comedy, sports, and business have united in honor of World Pangolin Day to draw attention to the critical need to address the terrible effects of the illegal killing of pangolins and the use of Nigeria as an export hub for the trafficking of pangolin scales.
A stellar lineup of well-known Nigerian celebrities, including 2Face, Davido, Ali Baba, Emanuella, Alex Iwobi, Josh2Funny, and several others, have joined the campaign, which is being led by Wild Africa Fund and supported by a wide range of Nigerian media organizations. These celebrities have pledged to use their voices and influence to raise awareness of the growing threats posed by the illegal wildlife trade, with a focus on pangolins.
“By leveraging the power of public figures and the influence they wield, this campaign aims to turn the tide for pangolins and make Nigeria a regional leader in fighting wildlife crime,” stated Dr. Mark Ofua, spokesperson for the Wild Africa Fund for West Africa.
Due in part to the high demand for their scales in Asian traditional medicine, pangolins are the most trafficked mammals globally. Pangolin shipments from Africa have significantly expanded to suit the rising demand while pangolin populations in Asia have plummeted.
The Wildlife Justice Commission reports that between 2016 and 2019, Nigeria accounted for 55% of pangolin scale seizures globally.
According to a recent survey by Lagos-based Market Surveys International of 1,000 Nigerians, 88% of respondents are aware of the Wild Africa Fund campaign, and 97% of those in the 10- to 17-year-old demographic said they can still recall it.
Furthermore, 31% of respondents stated they had ceased eating bushmeat as a result of the campaign, and 86% stated they would no longer kill or consume due to the lessons learned from it.
The campaign’s impact and reach can be ascribed to a number of things, such as the increased coverage of wildlife issues by Nigerian news organizations, the widely viewed P.S.A.s featuring Nigerian celebrities produced by Wild Africa Fund, and other engaging content such as Dr. Mark’s Animal Show, which is aimed towards children and teenagers and has been aired on multiple TV channels in Nigeria, including Silverbird TV, StarTimes, and Teen Africa TV.
“Once aware of the issues, leading Nigerians and the media have been incredibly supportive of better wildlife protection and we truly believe the country can lead the region in safeguarding pangolins and other endangered wildlife,” stated Peter Knights, the founder and CEO of Wild Africa Fund.
