Like most African countries, indiscriminate trade and
consumption of bush meat is very common. Most major markets in the country have
the bush meat openly displayed for sale. Hunters kill gorillas, primates and
all kinds of wild animals available to them either as a cultural feat or for
commercial purposes .At the point of sale the animals are already killed,
processed and sometimes dried or ground to powder, thereby making it difficult
to identify by mere physical observation.
The
Barcode of wild life project (BWP), initiated by the Consortium for the Barcode
of Life (CBOL) is a new tool that enables law enforcement agents to distinguish
bush meat in local markets gotten from endangered species.
Though, trade in Bush meat is seen by some as a harmless
commercial activity, it is illegal and has put over 90% of wild animals in
Africa in danger of extinction. The Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) concluded on 3 March 1973
and entered into force after ratification by 10 States, on 1 July 1975; seeks
to conserve biodiversity and contribute to its sustainable use by ensuring that
no species of wild fauna or flora becomes or remains subject to unsustainable
exploitation through international trade, thereby contributing to the
significant reduction of the rate of biodiversity loss. Nigeria is a party to
the Cites regulations and as such employs all national and international laws
and protocols open to her to fight wildlife crimes such as bush meat trade.
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