Nigeria's Elephants Face Extinction Without Urgent Action

Conservationists have raised alarms about the critical status of Nigeria's elephant population, which has dwindled to approximately 400 individuals due to habitat loss, human-wildlife conflicts, and ongoing pressure on forests. This warning was issued during a World Elephant Day media chat on August 12, organized by Wild Africa and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).

Dr. Stella Egbe, NCF's lead for biodiversity pillar programmes, emphasized the need for public awareness regarding elephant conservation and the importance of protecting their habitats. Dr. Mark Ofua, a wildlife veterinarian representing Wild Africa, shared personal anecdotes about the significant decline in elephant populations, noting that while large herds were once common in the Niger Delta, they have now vanished.

Current estimates indicate that Nigeria has about 300 forest elephants and 100 savannah elephants remaining in the wild. The conservationists stress that with adequate protection, these remnant populations could recover.