Vultures are Being Persecuted, and Extirpated in Nigeria: A Petition to end trades in vulture parts within Nigerian Markets and Communities 

A Proactive Step

Biota Conservation Hub Foundation has started a petition that requires law makers and government to step up laws protecting the critically endangered vulture species which targets the ongoing and increasing trades in their body parts within different markets of Nigeria. We need at least 9000 signatures to have impact. Please, sign the petition: 

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/324/622/374/end-trade-in-vulture-parts-in-nigerian-markets/  

You can share with others to do same. Doing this is a great service to humanity, our environment and posterity. Thank you for exhibiting a great service to the environment and human's future.

Petition statement

Trade in vulture parts continue unabated in Nigeria's open markets. Vultures are captured, persecuted, killed and sold for traditional medicines which is largely on the bases of traditional beliefs. Hooded vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus) are critically endangered species based on IUCN red list ratings. They have locally extinct in most communities in the country but despite the law against endangered species, no enforcement efforts or willingness is demonstrated by the law makers and law enforcement agencies in the country giving more chance for increased merciless killings of the animals in the country. 

The environmental significance of vultures will not be over emphasized; they clean the environment, they do that better than other animals that can further spread diseases if they encountered dead animals that are infected. Vultures' stomach can kill any bacteria eaten by the bird thereby serving as dead end to most diseases hence, they are the best avian species that controls diseases even as they sanitise our environment. But the vultures are killed daily and sold for traditional medicines. Their population kept declining drastically. Out of the seven species of vultures Nigeria used to have, only Hooded vultures, White-back vultures and the migrating Egyptian vultures can be seen; that's to say, Nigeria can not boast of having more than three species of vultures now as the rest have already extinct from the country.

Nigerian government has to review laws on endangered species adding enforcement terms and stricter punishment for breaking the law. Persecution and killings of vultures need to be stopped. The persisting perpetrators need to be sanctioned and reprimanded if they would not stop the illegal trading.

Please, help in signing the petition at: https://www.thepetitionsite.com/324/622/374/end-trade-in-vulture-parts-in-nigerian-markets/

NB: We have the enormous task of sponsoring the bill in Houses of Assemblies (the congress) and pushing it through to ensure the better protection of vultures in Nigeria, any donation  would be appreciated. You can click on the donation page for details. Thank you for being part of this movement for a better future and environment.

Discovery of a Dam that Harbours West African Crocodiles  

Biota Conservation Hub recently discovered a dam which besides being a habitat for cat fishes, and tortoises, is a habitat for Crocodiles since 1975 (according to the origin of the dam by the community members). It was discovered by a team member during a Conservation education and orientation in a community at the boundary of Plateau state and Bauchi state. The first visit at the dam by two members of the BiotaCHF who were equipped with binoculars and a camera was an exciting moment. We were led by a community member to the dam. A water body surrounded by grasses, shrubs and trees with water birds such as White-face whistling duck, grey heron, squacco heron and pied kingfishers, was a hub of African crocodiles. We saw more than ten crocodiles of what seemed comprising of two different species; West African crocodile. We suspected one of the species to be Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). The crocodiles were too scared to allow human within twenty meters closer. The community members told us that more than twenty individuals of the crocodiles inhabit the water. Two juveniles of the crocodilia were seen sailing in the water which is an indication of successful breeding. More than ten adults were seen moving about in the water like long brown moving woods with prominent eyes and at times opened mouths full of carnivorous dentition. The people of the community told us how they observed their breeding, nesting sites at the river banks, and hunting for food. They can travel for many kilometers in search of food and it's at those moments that unscrupulous human hunters harm them. The community members seems at peace with the creatures as they have been swimming, washing and watering their cattle from the dam without a single case of attack from the crocodiles. That's why the villagers now believe that the crocodiles are messenger of peace endowed in their water except for the threats poised against them by hunters who are largely outsiders and intruders. It would interest you to know that already, effort is being made at identifying the species of the crocodiles. BiotaCHF has gathered information about the eminent threats against the crocodiles by hunters who kill them for medicinal and traditional purposes. We are already making efforts at protecting the habitat firmly. Conservation conversation has begun between the BiotaCHF and the host communities of the neglected crocodiles toward preserving and protecting the species.

Carbon Sequestration Project: Need and risk assessment of a conservation site by biota conservationists in Plateau State Nigeria

BiotaCHF identified a forest site in Jwak-Maitumbi of Mangu local government area, which has the potential for carbon sequestration but which is already being disturbed by logging and other human activities. The site is known to have biodiversity which should not be left in the mercy of hunters and loggers. Human activities around this site is constituting threat to the biodiversity in that ecosystem. The fauna and flora in this place are magnificent and diverse with great potentials if properly conserved. We are working towards protecting the site to turn it in to a reserve to better protect the biodiversity and environment. Team of biota conservationists have visited the site twice with other visits being scheduled for survey of the organisms (both plants and animals' species). As we support afforestation programmes in different communities, we also know that it is not necessary that afforestation must occur before a forest can develop but forest itself has the natural resilience to develop again when all external forces are kept at check. We want to create an opportunity for a developed forest to play roles in biodiversity protection and carbon sequestration. We are already working closely with the community to protect this enriched ecosystem. Conservation conversation is already in progress towards the control of the forest for the good of nature.