Dr. Iziak Salako, Minister of State for Environment, adopted an orphaned elephant as part of his contribution to the the Nigeria Elephant Action Plan (NEAP), a 10-year strategic plan to protect the country’s remaining 300-400 elephants. The plan aims to address the severe challenges facing Nigeria’s elephant population, including habitat loss, poaching, and human-wildlife conflicts.
The NEAP, developed in partnership with the Elephant Protection Initiative Foundation and Wildlife Conservation Society, will provide a strategic framework for elephant conservation. Key components include enhanced law enforcement, anti-poaching measures, and community engagement to promote harmonious coexistence between humans and elephants.
Conservation experts emphasize that saving Nigeria’s elephants requires a change in attitude and a paradigm shift by federal and state governments towards realizing the link between human wellbeing, global health, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
