Saturday, 1 March 2014

ZOO TALK



March 3rd is the first ever world Wildlife day, and the UN hopes to bring to our attention, the diminishing population of wild animals in the world today. We are also encouraged to join the global wildlife conservation crusade to speak against illegal poaching, and the use of rhino horns, elephant tusks, etc to get ivory.



Talking about wildlife conversation, some time last year it was announced that a certain amount of money will be used to refurbish the presidential zoo at Aso rock, and all hell broke loose. (Haha) "Why will we refurbish a place for animals, when human beings have not eaten?" One caller screamed. "This is a way to steal money. Corruption! Criminals!" another caller said.

Joy and I had a lot on our hands that day, trying to calm down the callers and beg them to talk about the issue and not people, and all that. Looking at it critically you might want to bend to the side of the callers. Kids are begging on streets, and graduates are still touring the streets of Nigeria in the blazing sun, looking for jobs. Why should we care about animals when humans are not yet comfortable?



Tilting to the other side you'll discover, if we actually wait to make every human being comfortable before we start caring for animals, we might never get the chance. Have you ever imagined an African forest without animals? That will be so 'un-african' right? So I think we should strike a balance.

1 comment:

  1. Well said. By default Government's primary concern is the people. And then the people to Animals. So the matter of Caring for the Wild Life is stunted till govenment provided a steady welfare package for the people for its from there the animals are catered for!

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