Nigeria's elephant population faces extinction risk

Conservationists are warning that Nigeria's elephant population has dwindled to approximately 400 individuals remaining in the wild. This population is split between roughly 300 forest elephants and 100 savannah elephants.

During a media engagement organized by Wild Africa and the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, Dr. Mark Ofua, a wildlife veterinarian and West African representative for Wild Africa, identified several critical threats to the species. These include habitat fragmentation, the illegal ivory trade, human-wildlife conflict leading to retaliatory killings, and accidental injuries from snares. Ofua noted that continued habitat loss and hunting could lead to inbreeding and eventual extinction.

Experts describe elephants as an "umbrella species" that play a vital role in maintaining forest health, biodiversity, and carbon storage. The disappearance of these animals could signal a collapsing forest ecosystem with direct consequences for human wellbeing. Furthermore, a significant lack of public awareness was cited, with estimates suggesting 80 percent of Nigerians are unaware that elephants still exist in the country.