LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigerian customs stated they seized greater than 1,600 parrots and canaries that had been being transported from Lagos worldwide airport to Kuwait and not using a allow, in a single the largest wildlife trafficking seizures in years.
The seizure is an indication of constructive change within the struggle towards unlawful wildlife commerce, as Nigeria is a significant hub within the world commerce in protected species, Mark Ofua, West Africa spokesperson for the worldwide non-governmental group Wild Africa, informed The Related Press on Tuesday.
Customs brokers seized ring-necked parakeets and inexperienced and yellow fronted canaries, two protected species, on the airport on July 31, the company stated in an announcement late Monday.
Nigeria is a signatory to the Conference on Worldwide Commerce in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES.
The assertion by the customs company stated the cargo weren’t accompanied by a CITES allow and different paperwork required to show the birds had been legally obtained.
Nigerian customs stated an investigation to search out these chargeable for the illicit cargo is ongoing, and that the birds will likely be handed to the Nationwide Parks Service for rehabilitation and launch into the wild.
Ofua stated Nigeria’s porous borders, widespread corruption, and weak enforcement make it a key transit level for ivory, pangolin scales and different wildlife merchandise destined for Asia.
World unlawful wildlife trafficking is valued at $8–10 billion yearly, he added.
