Ms Jennifer Foltz, U.S. Consulate Deputy Public Affairs Officer,
By Babatunde Kaka
EKO HOT BLOG reports that the United States Consulate has applauded community efforts towards the protection of endangered species such as the Pangolin while also stating its commitment towards supporting the Nigerian Government in capacity building, enforcement and prosecution.
Ms Jennifer Foltz, U.S. Consulate Deputy Public Affairs Officer, disclosed this in her special address at the year 2022 World Pangolin Day celebration organised by Pangolin Conservation Working Group Nigeria (PCWGN) in partnership with One Health Development Initiative (OHDI) at Lagos Theatre Epe on Saturday 19th February.
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The diplomat commended distinguished speakers who shared their expertise while also appreciating residents and community stakeholders for being on the front line of protecting Pangolins.
She expressed her happiness at the presence of many young people; secondary school students and tertiary institution students whom she described as “the future of this country and of the world.”
Underscoring the role of young people in the conservation of pangolins Ms Foltz recalled how, about a few years ago, a father bought a Pangolin at the market and brought it home to his son as a pet. She said the son was upset, telling his father that the Pangolin was endangered and thereby made sure it was returned to a rescue centre.
“For us as adults, we’re still learning but the children know and they’re gonna be the one to really change the world in this area,” she said.
In a brief flashback, she admitted that before she came to Nigeria almost 3 years ago, she was oblivious of the knowledge of Pangolins. She disclosed that she took her time to know about the nocturnal animal and came to love it, stating that she’s learnt so much from many people especially Professor Olajumoke Morenikeji and the Pangolin Conservation Guild Nigeria and others.
She applauded Professor Olajumoke Morenikeji, President, Pangolin Conservation Working Group Nigeria, an Alumni of the United States Government-sponsored International Leadership Program, for living up to expectations by giving back to the community by being able to share her experiences after her return to Nigeria. This, she said, she has done remarkably in Nigeria as regards advocacy against wildlife trafficking.
“The United States is very committed to protecting Pangolins and in fact, all wildlife, by combating acts like trafficking, reducing demand for Pangolin scales and meat.
“Part of today is a project were working on with Professor (Morenikeji) and it is to promote awareness and advocacy, Pangolin conservation and education on the threats of Pangolin trafficking, not just because it’s dangerous to Pangolins but also because of the harm on the environment and human health,” she disclosed.
Ms Foltz disclosed that the project will train community stakeholders including local government and enforcement officials who would protect pangolins through monitoring, recording and addressing trafficking issues.
She reminded the gathering that wildlife trafficking was a serious transnational crime that threatens security, economic prosperity, rule of law and human health.
She argued further that the cruel acts of wildlife trafficking are decimating species such as rhinoceros, tigers, elephants and pangolins across the globe, bringing them close to extinction; an extinction that would deprive future generations of Africans of its ecological significance.
Ms Foltz averred that the United States Government in support of wildlife enforcement has built capacities of rangers and scouts, scientists, legislators, prosecutors to detect arrest and prosecute wildlife traffickers along the illegal supply chain.
“Part of the reasons the Pangolins are so endangered is because they are so elusive, so, they’re not like the lions, the elephants that people know about, that people see in videos. So, it’s like they’re hidden and for me, people don’t even know about them.
“So, I think there’s a lot of community awareness still to be done. It’s a very misunderstood animal and they are threatened by human activities especially. We’re encroaching into their protected areas and trafficking them,” she said.
Speaking further, Foltz warned that an increase in contact with wildlife apart from hurting them will expose humans to zoonotic diseases.
While she frowned at the plight of Pangolins in Nigeria and other countries despite the illegality in trade whether as live, as bushmeat or its scales, she also reminded the gathering of huge seizures of Pangolin scales and elephant ivory in Asia shipped from Nigeria due to porous borders.
“So, the US Mission to Nigeria, both the embassy in Abuja and the Consulate here in Lagos, we work very closely with Nigerian law enforcement agencies on how to identify pangolins, their scales, but of course, it takes more than law enforcement. Fighting the trafficking of Pangolins takes public awareness. That’s why the efforts of everyone here today are so important.
“Raising awareness takes time, it doesn’t happen overnight and then it takes constant effort. So, it’s really up to us to craft the misinformation that is out there and to raise the awareness to our classmates, our parents and our community members about pangolins,” she admonished.
Ms Foltz reiterated the importance of coming together annually to commemorate World Pangolin Day, stressing that all hands must be on deck to become champions for the shy creature every single day.
The consequences, she said, will be that of immense contributions to the survival of the endangered species in the wild.
“So I really call on you today to continue your efforts to raise awareness today and every day. I hope some days soon, every Nigerian and really everyone in the world loves pangolins as much as we all do, not for the meat, not for their scales but for the addition to the biodiversity of this country,” she appealed.
See Photos form event:
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