Conservationists in Lagos released three rescued sea turtles, highlighting growing efforts to protect Nigeria’s endangered wildlife.
Conservationists and students in Lagos cheered as three endangered sea turtles were released back into the ocean at a private beach last weekend. The turtles, rescued weeks earlier from fishermen, were rehabilitated by the Greenfingers Wildlife Conservation Initiative before being set free.
“For fishermen, they are just food,” said Chinedu Mogbo, founder of Greenfingers, in an interview with the Associated Press. “There is no knowledge out there of wildlife.”
Sea turtles, vital to the marine ecosystem, face rapid decline around Lagos, where urban pressures and lack of awareness threaten their survival. Nigeria currently has 23 critically endangered species, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Mark Ofua, West Africa representative for Wild Africa, warned that “Nigeria’s endangered wildlife faces an acutely critical and ongoing threat, teetering on the brink of irreversible biodiversity collapse.”
Students present described the release as inspiring, with one saying it underscored the importance of wildlife conservation efforts in Nigeria.