On January 9, Nigeria destroyed an ivory stockpile weighing almost 2.5 tons, with an estimated value of 10 billion Naira (nearly 11 million U.S. dollars). This ivory crush comes just a few months after the Nigerian authorities incinerated almost 4 tons of pangolin scales. The destruction of seized stockpiles of ivory helps tackle the illegal wildlife trade by ensuring those items will never again be sold.
Sending a Message against the Ivory Trade
The operation was organized by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) under the aegis of the Ministry of State for the Environment, and with the support of The Elephant Protection Initiative (EPI), the U.S. Embassy, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC). The ivory crush took place in front of journalists and cameras – a way for the authorities to demonstrate their determination to combat wildlife crime and safeguard elephants and their ecosystems.
Mr. Iziak Salako, Minister of the Environment, also specified that the crushed ivory remains will be used to build a symbolic monument to be erected in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to honor the elephants who lost their lives.
Nigeria Is Taking the Lead
With population declines of around 70% since the 1980s, Africa’s two elephant species, the savanna elephant and the forest elephant, are now threatened with extinction (the forest elephant is considered critically endangered). Without immediate action, elephants may disappear from West Africa entirely.
Without immediate action, elephants may disappear from West Africa entirely.
Nigeria is taking significant steps towards combating illegal wildlife trafficking and has established itself as a regional leader in the fight. Nigeria was the first West African country to validate its National Wildlife Crime Strategy and set up a National Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force (WLETF), closely followed by countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and Niger.
Born Free USA Supports Efforts in West Africa to Protect Wildlife
Since 2017, Born Free USA has been supporting Nigeria and all West African nations in their efforts to curb wildlife trafficking in the region. This support continues in 2024 with training courses planned for Nigeria’s WLETF members and others focusing on mutual legal assistance. These initiatives aim to assist countries in becoming more effective in the fight against wildlife crime and to facilitate coordination between nations. These efforts are supported by the adoption, in early December 2023, of the West Africa Strategy on Combating Wildlife Crime (WASCWC) by all 15 West African countries.
Support Born Free USA’s work to protect elephants in the wild by symbolically adopting an elephant!
Your adoption gift will support our work in West Africa to protect elephants from poaching, wildlife trade, and other threats.
Keep Wildlife in the Wild,
Alice
