Wildlife Weekly

Every July, the world observes World Zoonoses Day, a special day to create awareness about diseases that originate in animals and can be transmitted to humans. It is estimated that 60% of infectious diseases and up to 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted from animals to humans. The transmitted agents of the infection could be any bacterial, viral, or parasitic pathogen.In the last decade, Nigeria has experienced zoonotic disease outbreaks such as the Ebola virus in 2014 and, recently, COVID-19, monkeypox, and Lassa fever, killing thousands of people in their wake.Typically, zoonotic transmission and events spread through contact with animals. Nigeria has a bustling bushmeat trade, which makes the country susceptible to zoonotic disease outbreaks.Africa faces a growing risk as it deals with population growth, rapid urbanization, deforestation, and the commercial bushmeat trade. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of zoonotic outbreaks, such as Ebola and monkeypox diseases, in the region from 2012 to 2022 has increased by 63% compared to the previous decade (2001 to 2011).In the last 24 months, several infectious disease outbreaks have been recorded in Africa and across the world, including these major zoonotic disease outbreaks: COVID-19 pandemicAnthraxMarburg virusMonkeypox (Mpox)EbolaYellow feverLassa feverThe recent outbreaks of anthrax, monkeypox (now known as Mpox), and Marburg virus in some parts of Africa as well as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, serve as a reminder that zoonotic diseases continue to pose a significant threat to our health, economies and global security. The Nigerian government recently issued an advisory warning citizens to desist from consuming bushmeat in the immediate aftermath of the outbreak of anthrax — believed to have spread from animals — in northern Ghana.This episode discusses World Zoonosis Day and how best to protect endangered species and avoid contact with humans, which typically leads to zoonotic events like Ebola, Monkeypox, or Lassa Fever.This episode features Dr Stella Egbe, Species Conservation Manager - Nigeria Conservation Foundation.

Parrots are among the world's most intelligent and traded wildlife species. In Nigeria, they are affectedby habitat loss, a bustling pet trade online, and wildlife markets for their parts. Their feathers are used intraditional attire decoration as a symbol of status. In 2016, the Convention on International Trade inEndangered Species (CITES) banned the trade of African Grey Parrots.In 2023, the Nigeria Customs Service said its officers intercepted 105 parrots and other birds fromKatsina State to Benin Republic worth N24 million. This included 60 Green parrots, 14 BudgerigarParrots, six Eastern Rosella Parrots, two Macaw Parrots, one White Cockatoo Parrots, and four RoseRinged Parakeet Parrots.Yet, the sale of Parrots continues unabated in Nigeria, which demands our immediate attention. Theyare reportedly sold in a popular market in Lagos and paraded for sale on one of Nigeria’s mostprominent e-commerce stores, Jiji.Every May 31st is World Parrot Day, which reminds us of parrots' crucial role in ecosystems and theneed to protect their habitats. Originating from various regions across the globe, parrots play anessential role in their environment, helping to disperse seeds in forests and even aiding pollination.Also, for this report, Ifeanyi Ezenwa, the Nigerian director of World Parrot Trust, an organizationworking to protect parrots in Nigeria, will be interviewed. The conversation will explore the urgent plightof parrots in Nigeria and the crucial steps we can take to reverse this trend and save them.

Nigeria’s coastal waters are home to five species of sea turtles, including the critically endangeredHawksbill and Leatherback turtles. Yet, they face severe threats from poaching, plastic pollution, andbycatch in fishing nets.Doyinsola Ogunye is a conservationist based in Lagos, Nigeria. She founded the first sustainable beach inLagos, the Kids Beach Garden, to teach children about the importance of caring for nature whileshowing them the need to teach life and environmental lessons through occasional beach clean-ups.While cleaning the beach, she quickly learned that Lagos’s coastal area is home to endangered turtle species, including the Leatherback, Green, and Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. In addition to being killed by ingesting plastics, these turtles are actively targeted by poachers who sell them for meat.So, she started saving turtles and educating coastal communities about conserving them, which is crucial for ensuring food security. In addition to being killed by ingesting plastics, Turtles are actively targeted by poachers who sell them for meat.

Bats play a crucial role in pollination, seed dispersal, and pest control; however, they are oftenmisunderstood and persecuted because of superstitions and fears. In Nigeria, bats are frequentlyhunted for bushmeat, and some species are at risk from deforestation and cave destruction. For thisepisode, and in honor of International Bat Appreciation Day, the presenter will discuss debunking mythsand highlighting the ecological importance of bats.Nigeria has 100 bat species, one-third of Africa’s bat diversity. Dedicated bat conservation in Nigeriabegan in 2012, with monitoring and roost protection of the Straw-colored Fruit bat. Since then, batconservation in Nigeria has expanded to include two additional species: the Egyptian roulette fruit bat(Rousettus aegyptiacus) and the Short-tailed round leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros curtus).Intense hunting of large-bodied fruit bats for food is reported across West Africa, and Nigeria allows bathunting.Efforts to protect roosts and conservation outreach programs to involve communities in conserving batsare ongoing. Both fruit bat species are primary seed dispersers and pollinators, so steep populationdeclines jeopardize valuable ecosystem services, forest regeneration, and ecosystem health.Additionally, Nigerians have a negative perception of bats. They see them as witches, and sometimessay bats represent a bad omen.

Forests cover one-third of the earth land mass, perform vital functions, and support the livelihoods of1.6 billion people. They are essential for human survival, but human activity has damaged them. Everyyear, approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed.Forests are home to more than half of the world’s land-based animals, plants, and insects. They combatclimate change because of their capacity to remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it, which iscalled forest mitigation. Forests also buffer the impacts of storms and floods. By feeding our rivers,forests supply drinking water for nearly half of the world’s largest cities. They also provide shelter, jobs,and security for forest-dependent populations.Every March 21st is International Day of the Forest. The 2025 International Day of Forests theme was"Forests and Foods", a theme chosen to highlight the role of forests in food security, nutrition, andsustainable livelihoods, especially in host communities living closer to forests. This year’s themepromotes biodiversity and climate change mitigation due to forest protection.The first weekly wildlife episode will speak to the project coordinator at the Olokemeji Forest ReserveRestoration project - managed by IITA Forest Centre. Situated between the Nigerian mega-cities ofAbeokuta and Ibadan, the Olokemeji Forest Reserve spans about 5,900 hectares and is one of southwestAfrica's largest forest reserves that has suffered severe degradation due to unsustainable exploitationand farming practices.But with the restoration project, which involves replanting trees and enforcement efforts that havereduced illegal logging inside the forest reserve.In addition, and most importantly, IITA forest centre launched sustainable socio-economic programmeslike bee-keeping, empowering former loggers and hunters to participate in the project.This episode will speak with the Olokemeji Forest Reserve project coordinator to discuss the intersectionbetween forest, food and wildlife protection.

On World Wildlife Day, the Nigerian government, the private sector, and conservation organizations areencouraged to support wildlife conservation initiatives to preserve Nigeria’s iconic species.This year’s theme, “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet,” emphasizes theessential role of innovative funding in protecting biodiversity and ensuring a sustainable future for bothnature and humanity

This first episode from Season 4 focuses on World Pangolin Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about one of the most trafficked mammals on the planet: the pangolin. We'll be exploring the challenges pangolins face, the tireless efforts being made to save them, and what we can all do to make a difference. It also feature an interview with Dr. Mark Ofua, the Nigeria representative for Wild AfricaThis pod is brought to you through a partnership between Wild Africa and Yabatech Radio 89.3FM Lagos.

On World Ranger Day, we celebrate the individuals around the world who play an essential role in safeguarding our planet’s natural resources. Their skills are indispensable in combating poaching, illegal fishing, and other threats that jeopardize wildlife and exacerbate climate change.

In this episode, Oiza visits the Wildlife Park at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State where she engaged the zoo keeper, Mr Anthony Enahoro in a conservation about the animals in the zoo, their routine care, and what a typical day in his life as a zoo keeper is. For better perspectives on Zoos and Wildlife Conservation, she speaks with Dr Mark Ofua. Enjoy!

One of Africa's first wildlife shows for kids, Dr Mark, a qualified wildlife vet, spends each episode educating kids about a different animal relevant to the African continent. The episodes unpack general information about each species as well as the threats they face and what we can do to help protect them.

Forests cover one third of the earth's land mass, performing vital functions and supporting the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people. Forests are vital for human survival but have been hit hard by human activity. Every year, approximately 12 million hectares of forest are destroyed.  Forests are home to more than half of the world’s land-based species of animals, plants and insects. They combat climate change because of their capacity to remove carbon from the atmosphere and store it, which is called forest mitigation. Forests also buffer the impacts of storms and floods. By feeding our rivers, forests supply drinking water for nearly half of the world’s largest cities. They also provide shelter, jobs and security for forest-dependent populations.

On Tuesday, 9th January 2024, the Nigerian government organized its first-ever Ivory crush, destroyed massive stockpiles of seized elephant tusks, and worked ivory weighing about 2.5 tonnes (2,436.15 kilograms). The event was held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, and was spearheaded by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) in collaboration with the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation (EPIF). Nigeria's first-ever ivory crush is a watershed moment for a country working to conserve its elephant population and combat the illegal ivory trade.   

In March 2021, the Nigerian Breweries Plc awarded the restoration of an area (about 600 ha) of Olokemeji Forest Reserve to the IITA Forest Center, with the Ogun State Government as an implementing partner. The Olokemeji Forest Reserve covering about 5,900 ha and located between two mega-cities in Nigeria, Abeokuta and Ibadan, is one of the largest forest reserves in southwest Africa. The Forest Reserve is managed by the Ogun State Government, but highly degraded due to unsustainable exploitation and farming practices. The Olokemeji Reforestation Project is a corporate social responsibility of the Nigerian Breweries Plc to give back to the surrounding communities where they get their most important resource for production – water.

On the show today, let’s talk deforestation and the latest happening in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital As the world seeks to slow the pace of climate change, preserve wildlife, and support more than eight billion people, trees inevitably hold a major part of the answer. Yet the mass destruction of trees—deforestation—continues, sacrificing the long-term benefits of standing trees for short-term gain of fuel, and materials for manufacturing and construction. We need trees for a variety of reasons, not least of which is that they absorb the carbon dioxide we exhale and the heat-trapping greenhouse gases that human activities emit. As those gases enter the atmosphere, global warming increases, a trend scientists now prefer to call climate change. There is also the imminent danger of disease caused by deforestation. An estimated 60 percent of emerging infectious diseases come from animals, and a major cause of viruses’ jump from wildlife to humans is habitat loss, often through deforestation.

African grey parrots are bright, intelligent, long living birds.  They are known to be smart, talented mimics. But their popularity has taken a heavy toll on their wild populations. The parrot, which once flourished in Nigeria and several West African countries, has nearly disappeared from the wild due to unsustainable trapping and habitat loss.  African grey parrots are one of the most commonly traded of all birds. More than one million wild grey parrots were likely traded between 1982 and 2001. Ifeanyi Ezenwa, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria's Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, has been keeping track of these activities since 2017. He also works for the World Parrot Trust, an international NGO focused on the conservation and welfare of parrots. 

It’s always in the news. The public hears it quite often. But what exactly is climate change and how can we help the public make sense of this complex term? In this episode, Oiza spoke to Olumide Idowu, aka  Mr. Climate, who is a campaigner and climate change activist as well as Host, The Climate Talk Podcast Seyifunmi Adebote

Mangroves are rare, spectacular and prolific ecosystems on the boundary between land and sea. Mangroves contribute to the wellbeing, food security, and protection of coastal communities worldwide. Mangroves also act as a form of natural coastal defense against storm surges, tsunamis, rising sea levels and erosion. Yet mangroves are disappearing three to five times faster than overall global forest losses. In this episode, Oiza had a chat with Jerry Chidi, documentary photographer,  who is raising awareness on the importance of mangroves as unique, special and vulnerable ecosystems & promotes solutions for their conservation and use.

Vulture populations on the African continent have plummeted catastrophically over the last 50 years, with some species declining by as much as 97%. Seven of the eleven African vulture species are at risk of extinction. In West Africa there is high demand for vulture parts, majorly driven by belief-based use. In some communities, vulture heads are erroneously thought to contain mystic powers and are used in making traditional charms and medicine. In Nigeria, vultures are also sold in markets as food and protein supplements. Vulture eggs are also highly sought for money-making rituals and are believed to cure madness and various ailments. The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has been engaging traditional healers with the aim of raising awareness about plant-based alternatives to vulture parts. In this episode, Oiza spoke to Dr. Stella Egbe, Species Conservation Manager, Nigeria Conservation Foundation. Mr. Oladapo Soneye, Communications Officer at Nigeria Conservation Foundation. Mariam Longe, TV Host (Your View on TVC)

Plastic Pollution has become a menace in Lagos, South west, Nigeria with drainages, canals, lagoon and ocean filled with different colours, shapes and sizes of plastics which result in flooding of roads, streets and homes eventually leading to loss of life and property. In commemorating World Environment Day with the theme"Solutions to Plastic Pollution", Oiza speaks with Doyinsola Ogunye, founder of RESWAYE, a recycling initiative in Lagos and Benedicta Ikemefuna, a young heroine volunteering and contributing her efforts to curbing Plastic Pollution in Lagos, Nigeria.