From Abdullahi Adamu Gusau
The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association has condemned the brutal killing of two young defenceless elephant calves at Kala Balge LGA of Borno State on December 17, 2023.
A press release issued by the President of the association, Dr. Moses Arokoyo, stated that a military personnel (wearing a camouflage) was caught in the act as evident in a viral video circulating across social media platforms committing the dastardly act.
The inhumane act depicted the premeditated and willful termination of a harmless and defenceless creature’s life, it also infringed on the animal’s right to live, which is our duty to protect as Veterinarians, the release added.
“In the same vein, we have also received with deep pain, reports of killings of two booted eagles which migrated from Europe but met their sad ends in Kebbi and Sokoto States, Nigeria .”
“We wish to inform our colleagues and the entire Veterinary community that the Nigerian National Park Service is already being engaged on the issue and in line with further investigations, the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association will work in collaboration with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) and The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to get a sustainable solution to the continued Animal brutality as this is becoming of increasing concern.”
The release also highlighted how worthy it was to note that the act may not be unconnected to lack of awareness and sensitivity about the significance of wildlife conservation and options of non-lethal methods of self preservation to mitigate threats from these endangered wildlife species. “Hence, we will ensure that adequate steps are taken to correct this through intensified sensitization campaigns.”
The NVMA therefore reiterated the need for the employment of Veterinarians across the Local Government areas in Nigeria who will be saddled with not just Wildlife preservation responsibility but Animal Health and will also provide early warning on disease outbreak especially Zoonotic diseases. Veterinarians are the Gate Keepers of Public health as current trends have shown that Seventy-five percent (75%) of emerging and re-emerging diseases are of animal origin.
“The NVMA remains committed to the preservation and welfare of the over four hundred million (400,000,000) livestock in Nigeria and we are open to collaborations with all stakeholders to prevent recurrence of this act and ensure a mutual co-existence between humans, wildlife and all other members of the ecosystem.”
