NCF, SSDO Organises a Sensitization Rally on Vulture Conservation
The Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF) and South Sahara Social Development Organisation (SSDO) have carried out a walk and sensitization of residents of Enugu State on the need to conserve vultures.
The walk, which is meant to commemorate International Vulture Day 2022, titled: “A Mile for Egyptian Vulture”, witnessed sensitization within major roads in Enugu metropolis for several hours on Thursday.
The aim of the rally is to create awareness on the importance of vultures to the ecosystem and why they need to be protected, especially the Egyptian Vultures. Vultures are scavengers and natural cleaning agents. By feasting on carcasses, they remove pathogens and toxins from the dead animals that would have infected the environment. This is possible because their stomach contains a potent acid that destroys the harmful substances found in dead animals.
However, research has shown that the vulture population is on a steady decline and some species are fast going extinct. There is a healthy vulture population in Enugu state. These vultures existence is threatened by illegal killing and trading of vultures.
Mr. Oladapo Soneye, Head of Communications, NCF, stated “There is a wrong cultural impression people have about vultures. People assume seeing vultures mean bad omen and then do everything possible to get rid of them.” “Others say vultures are ugly and have no usefulness and then proceed to harm them. Today we want to change the narrative of killing vultures and destroying their habitat.”
Speaking, the Head of Programmes in SSDO, Mr Udochukwu Egwim, said the economic and health benefits of allowing the vulture do their naturally assigned role of environmental cleaning agents cannot be over-emphasized. Egwim noted that vultures ensure the “essential balance in the eco-system” and do much by their activities to protect life both of humans and animals in a given environment.
“We are on this to ensure that as change agent, which SSDO stands for, we ensure that our people do the right thing and ensure that international best practices meant to benefit every human on earth is done,” he said.
Egwim noted that it was unfortunate that about 150 vultures were found dead in Ihe community in Awgu Local Government Area of the state about two years ago.
“SSDO has carried investigation on the matter and did awareness with the residents of the community on vultures’ protection as well as set up a vulture volunteer watch group.
“The protection group, made up of hunters, farmers, youths and traditional authority, will watch-over and preserve vultures in the community henceforth and report any threat to NCF and SSDO,” he said.
