Aremu (above), is the lion cub adopted and named by ex-president Obasanjo
A
new investigative report has given an insight into the growing jungle
of animals including a lion at the Olusegun Obasanjo's wild life park in
Abeaokuta, Ogun State.
The gathering, as expected, was impressive, laced with the presence
of school children whose curiosity to see some of their favorite
animals commonly seen on cartoons, was high. They came from far and near
and at the end, they not only had the opportunity to see hundreds of
these wildlife, but also had the privilege of choosing names for them.
The event, first of its kind in Abeokuta, Ogun State, was the
official opening of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL)
Wildlife Park, held at the zoo car park inside the Library complex.
The Deputy Chief Coordinator of the OOPL, Ayodele Aderinwale, led
the top management team and kept the chief promoter and former Nigerian
president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s big surprise for the day till the
end.
Aderinwale, who kicked off the ceremony with his welcome address,
hinted that the concept of the wildlife park in the Presidential Library
had been part of the project from inception. He thanked the committee
that come up with the park for a job well done and enjoined the
community to support the initiative, assuring that both visitors and
workers will get adequate protection in and around the park.
The chairperson, OOPL Wildlife Park planning committee and the
National President Nigerian Association of Zoological Gardens and
Wildlife Parks (NAZAP), Dr. Olajumoke Morenikeji, in her address
described former President Obasanjo as a great man.
“Today is a very beautiful day; it is a day we are very excited
and happy about because OOPL has included a very important thing into
the foundation, and that is the Wildlife Park. President Obasanjo has
shown that he is a very great man because anybody that cares for people
and remembers to care for animals and the environment is a great man,” she said.
On the state of wildlife in the country, Morenikeji hinted that the
country was blessed with vast animal and plant resources, some of which
are indigenous.
“However, five animals that are critically endangered in
Nigeria include West African lion (Panthera leo leo) listed as
critically endangered on the IUCN Red List. Others include Cross River
Gorilla, Cameroonian forest shrew, White-throated guenon and Red-eared
guenon.
“In Africa, the elephants, African penguin, black rhinoceros,
African lion, cheetah, African wild dog, Pygmy hippopotamus, mountain
gorilla, Ethiopian wolf, pangolins, Addax are all endangered.”
She emphasized that “there is a need for key players to revitalize
species protection/conservation agendas and actions that will educate
people on the essence of conserving species, and initiate Species
Survival Programs (SSP) and Conservation breeding for those species that
their numbers have drastically reduced.
“The Nigerian Government has tried by gazetting and setting
aside some portions of the landscape to protect and preserve the
country’s biodiversity. Nevertheless, there is a need to involve all
stakeholders. It is no news that these government protected areas are
still being encroached upon and their resources fast declining.”
The planning committee chairperson called on the Federal Government
to shift its attention to Wildlife Tourism and start to reduce its over
dependence on oil, adding that tourism and wildlife tourism could be
used to bring a lot of resources into the country.
“If you look at countries like Kenya, what do they depend on?
They depend on wildlife tourism. If I go to Kenya today, basically, I
must visit their parks, zoos and facilities, this is an aspect we should
focus on,” she said.
She further appealed to the federal government to ensure the safe
return of the abducted director of Ogba Zoo in Edo State, Dr. Andy
Ehanire, who was kidnapped on September 24.
To the Ogun State Government, the OOPL WILDLIFE park will no doubt
make positive impact in the economy of the state, particularly at a time
that the federal government was looking to reduce over dependence on
oil.
The State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Bashorun Muyiwa
Oladipo, said the innovation was a worthy idea, which would further add
to the tourism potentials of the state and the country.
“This is a wildlife park, a zoo where you have animals in their natural state,” Oladipo said.
Oladipo however noted that the opening of the park would increase
the influx of people and tourists into the state capital, adding that
job opportunities would be made available, just as it would have a
positive impact on the economy of the state.
The event later dovetailed into the name adoption session and a
friend of the OOPL, simply identified as Prof. Afolabi was the first to
adopt an animal.
Afolabi chose a cub and announced an adoption price tag of N1m. The cub was named “ADE” to the admiration of guests.
Through an open draw for invited schools, Glorious King Academy
Abeokuta was picked and it suggested “AMANDA” for a foal (baby horse),
while a stripped Hyena was named “SPY” as suggested by pupils of Golden
Grace International School.
The Towulade of Akinale, in Ewekoro local government area of Ogun
State, Oba Olufemi Ogunleye, who was a special guest adopted a spotted
Hyena named “Adewunmi” while The Bells School Sango Otta adopted a foal
named “BELLS”.
The managing director of OOPL Ventures, Mr. Vitalis Ortese, announced President Obasanjo’s adoption. According to Ortese, “Baba has directed that he will like to take one of the cubs for N1m.”
He explained that the name adoption of the animals was aimed at
recruiting individuals and corporate partners who will support the park
in providing the financial resources for the preservation and care of
animals that are on the brink of extinction because of increased human
activities.
Thereafter, guests and pupils were led into the zoo by the tourism
commissioner who formally declared the OOPL Wildlife and Park opened.
Some of the animals and birds in the zoo include African tortoises,
African crested porcupine, African rock python, dwarf crocodiles,
African caracals, desert Lynx, jackal, sported hyena, striped hyena,
palm civet, guinea pig, camels, donkeys, olive baboon, speckled pigeon,
lion and others.
Source: DailyTrust
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