Andoni Forest Elephants In Dangers Of Extinction

Urbanisation, rapid deforestation and other unfriendly Man’s enviromental activities have been identified as the greatest threat to wildlife existence including the micro Flora and fauna.
It would be noted that the world over, major cities including the towns and villages were once farmlands and hunting grounds.
However, as man’s activities increase owing to rapid urbanisation, world precious resources including the wildlife are becoming extinct.
It was against this background that international organisations such as the United Nations, national and subnational governments across the world are coming up with policies to preserve some of the world endangered species.
The situation is not different from Andoni.The increasing rate of urbanisation on the Andoni mainland is constituting a threat to some wildlife in the area particularly the Elephant.
Recalled that in 2019 the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) had submitted a draft copy of a byelaw for the protection of Wildlife in Andoni to the Local Government Legislative Assembly.
The document was titled, “Andoni Local Government Wildlife Species Protection Byelaw: The Protection of Endangered Flora and Fauna Byelaw 2019.
According to the organisation, the Byelaw was inline with the-National Wildlife Species Protection Amendment Act 2015.
“The convention on International Trade in Endangered species or wildlife fauna and flora.
“The convention on migratory species of wild Animals and her daughter agreements and protocols and the convention on National Biodiversity to which Nigeria is a signatory” (cites).
However, since the submission of the Byelaw not much seems to be happening in the area interms of wildlife conservation.
Speaking with The Tide recently, a community leader in Ngo town, Chief Awajiokan Mbosowo, stressed the importance of wildlife conservation in Andoni.
He said what makes Andoni unique was its abundant wildlife, stressing that even the Elephants are hardly seen these days.
According to the chief , what is needed is for the government to come up with a policy that designate part  of the Andoni forest as natural park for the conservation of the Elephants and other endangered species.
He commended the Rivers State Governor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike for the ongoing construction of the Ngo section of the Unity Road, stressing that the people of Ngo and the rest of Andoni will forever be grateful to Governor Wike for the road.
Also speaking, an Environmentalist, Prince William Chinwo said Rivers State will become a tourist haven if efforts are made to preserve the Andoni forest elephants
He acknowledged that recent activities of oil exploration companies including various government construction activities on the Andoni mainland may put the animals in dangerous position.
According to him, “what the government need to do is to set up a natural park in the area where the animals can be preserved.
He said the situation may even improve the revenue of the state by attracting tourists to the state.
“I will call on the government to create something like a natural park in the area.
“Rivers State need something like this to bring more tourists to the state,”he said.
Also speaking, National publicity secretary of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), Prosper Ogbunie said preserving the animals should be the task for the incoming administration.
He said oil companies should also contribute towards enviromental preservation.
Some other stakeholders who spoke on the issue said the present administration in Andoni should think of ways to bring to world attention that animal species like the elephant exist in the area.
According to them, this is the time to come up with a legislation to preserve the animals for posterity.
It would be recalled that at a presentation in 2018 at Ngo the council headquarters,the then coordinator of Niger Delta Biodiversity Conservation Programme, Dr Dore said recent researches  by  wildlife experts revealed that the number of the Elephants as at 2018 was less than fifty.
According to him,less than fifty in conservation circle means gradual or rapid decline in numbers.
He said that if the  Elephants at the Okolo Ndeng  part of the Andoni forest cannot cross to their kins at the  Otuoyo side  it means that Andoni will soon lost its elephant species since the mainland is presently being cut into two  halves by oil exploration companies.
Actually, activities of Green Energy Limited has divided the forest into two halves.
Even recent attempt by the animals to cross was not successful.
Two Elephants were spotted last year trying to cross but to no avail.
Dore called for a proactive step to preserve the animal from extinction.
This view was also supported by Professor John Mshebillah who stressed the need to preserve the animal.
As at the time of filing this report, no effort by the council to domesticate the byelaw.
May be incoming administrations will look into it.
Andoni is unique not because of Oil companies. Andoni is unique because of her wildlife.
That is why something must be done about it.

By: John Bibor