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Elephants population has dramatically decrease
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Government will build national park monuments with powder made from elephant tusks
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Thousands of elephants are killed each year for their tusks
Eko Hot Blog reports that Nigeria, on Tuesday, took a significant step in safeguarding its declining elephant population by destroying 2.5 tonnes of seized elephant tusks, valued at over 9.9 billion naira ($11.2 million).
This move aims to combat wildlife traffickers who pose a threat to the already dwindling elephant numbers in the country.
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Conservationists highlight that Nigeria’s elephant population has dramatically fallen from an estimated 1,500 to less than 400 over the past three decades. The decline is attributed to poaching for ivory, habitat loss, and conflicts between humans and elephants.
Minister of State for Environment Iziaq Salako said the government crushed the tusks and will use the powder to build a symbolic national park monument as a reminder of the importance of elephants in the ecosystem.
The pulverization of the tusk in the capital Abuja follows a similar event in October where officials destroyed four tonnes of seized pangolin scales valued at $1.4 million.
Thousands of elephants are killed each year for their tusks despite a 1989 ban on the trade of ivory by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Despite being a signatory to CITES, Nigeria is considered a hub for gangs sending illegal African wildlife parts including tusks and pangolin scales to Asia, according to law enforcement and wildlife experts.
But the large West African nation has stepped up counter-smuggling efforts in recent years, partnering with British, US and German officials as well as international organizations to make its biggest seizure of illegal wildlife parts in August 2021.
Last month, officials began an investigation after a video posted on social media showed a soldier shooting two elephants that strayed into farmlands, sparking outrage among citizens.
In 2022, Nigeria customs officials seized 1,613 tonnes of pangolin scales and arrested 14 people.
Credit: CNN
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