Former President Olusegun Obasanjo
has adopted one of the three newborn
lion cubs inside the new Olusegun
Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL),
Abeokuta Wildlife Park, christening the
animal ‘ Aremu ’, his traditional name .
The OOPL Wildlife Park is a section of
the presidential library , which houses
over 140 indigenous and exotic animals .
It was set up to encourage wildlife
conservation, educate the general
public, promote tourism and also
support research.
In a release by his media aide , Kehinde
Akinyemi , Obasanjo’s naming of the cub
also attracted a one million naira
donation for the animal ’ s upkeep , with
a call on Nigerians to come to the aid of
some animal species that face extinction
in the nearest future.
The former president, who spoke
through the Managing Director of OOPL
Ventures, Vitalis Ortese, at the opening
ceremony of the Wildlife Park and
Animal ADOPTION (Animals Depend On
People Too), said the name adoption of
the animals in the park was aimed at
recruiting individual and corporate
partners who would support the park in
providing the financial resources for the
preservation and care of animals that
are on the brink of extinction as a
result of increased human activities.
The national president, National
Association of Zoo And Parks (NAZAP ),
Dr. Morenikeji Olajumoke , urged the
government to brace up to the
challenges facing wildlife in the
country , hinting that at present , some
species face extinction in the country ,
“ and , we must do something to it fast,
because of their benefits to humanity
too .
“ Among the animals that are facing
extinction is the Pangolin otherwise
known as bush meat (eran ‘ gbe).
Already in China, we cannot find it
anymore and they are shifting attention
to Africa , particularly in Nigeria . And
this is an animal that eliminates about
70 million pests in our forests annually.
So, if we do not quickly address this, the
pests will be available to destroy our
forests too ,” she said .
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