Bauchi – The Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) ,Bauchi State chapter, has urged the Bauchi State Government to train its veterinary doctors toward becoming specialists in wildlife to protect the lives of animals living in parks and zoos.
The Chairman of the Association in the state, Dr Alqasim Ibrahim, made the call on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bauchi.
According to him, wildlife animals need to have experts around them to ensure that they remain safe in their cages since they are kept under the supervision of government for tourism and educational activities.
He said that Bauchi State, being a state with sites for tourists’ attraction, should have a team of wildlife experts so that the animals would be provided with quality services, adding that “the Yankari wildlife park has various species of animals which are hardly found in Nigeria.’’
While condemning the recent killing of a lion that escaped from Plateau zoo, Ibrahim said the animal could have been shot with a vaccine that would make it fall asleep rather than killing it.
“We have lots of veterinary doctors that are experts in areas of wildlife so that animals in parks and zoos will be properly taken care of.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“Even in instances whereby they escape from their cages, experts should do the proper thing instead of killing them.’’
He frowned at activities that could lead to either maltreatment or abuse of animals by humans, stressing that animals were also living things and their rights should be protected.
Ibrahim said it was time for Nigerians to also inculcate the habit of protecting animals as well.
“They are animals but its high time that Nigerians realise that they also have life, provide us with food, clothing and even pharmaceutical companies.
“We use various parts of animals for drugs, as such, they should also be treated with caution and care,’’ he said. (NAN)
