Conservationists who participated at a workshop in Lagos are seeking viable alternatives to the use of Vultures. They say Africa’s largest and most recognizable bird of prey, the vulture, is going into extinction.
According to the latest assessment of birds carried out by BirdLife International for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Six of Africa’s 11 vulture species are now at a higher risk of extinction.
One of the main causes of the drop in population of Africa’s largest and most recognizable birds of prey, is the use of vulture body parts in traditional medicine. The decline in vultures’ population is becoming alarming, as approximately 500 tonnes are trafficked monthly ending up as derivatives used in traditional medicine. The bird is widely sourced from Northern Nigeria to meet the demands in Southwest Nigeria for traditional medicinal purposes.
The overall objective of the project is to combat illegal trade in Nigeria, which is seen as a source, transit route and market hotspot for the trade, particularly in the Northern and South Western States.
They want to reduce the use of vulture parts by traditional healers by promoting the use of viable alternative products in traditional medicines and through strengthened law enforcement).
These stakeholders collectively blamed government for poor legislation on the conservation of wildlife. They noted that there is failure in the effective implementation of extant laws to protect them.
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