Animal Rights & Wildlife Conservation

ANIMAL RIGHTS & WILDLIFE CONSERVATION (ARWC) PROGRAM

 The Animal Rights and Wildlife Conservation Program is an initiative of the SabiLaw Foundation to promote legal awareness, advocacy and enforcement of animal rights and wildlife conservation in Nigeria.

As guardians of this planet, humans are responsible for protecting and preserving all living beings. This responsibility calls for awareness, advocacy, and enforcement of animal rights and wildlife conservation. With the high rate of animal abuse across Nigeria due to religious, cultural, security, and business factors, animal rights activism in Nigeria is imperative. With the World Wildlife Fund’s report that there is an annual loss of 200 wild species, wildlife conservation is urgently needed worldwide.  Hence, the SabiLaw Foundation, through its Animal Rights Matter program, will strategically engage stakeholders and forge reliable partnerships for a transformative impact on animal rights and our society.

Vision: A Nigeria where animal rights and welfare are fully respected and wildlife conserved maximally.

Mission: To promote animal rights and wildlife conservation through awareness, advocacy and enforcement

Motto: Animal Rights and WildLife for Nigeria

Objectives of the Animal Rights and Wildlife Conservation Project:

1. Raise Awareness: Promote awareness of animal rights and welfare, humane education and wildlife conversation.
2. Legislative Reforms and Advocacy: Advocate for a National Policy on Animal Rights and Wildlife Conservation, including animal rights and wildlife in the Nigerian Constitution, and enacting animal rights legislation across States in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory.
3. Legal Representation: Partner with law firms to provide legal services and representation for prosecuting animal rights, illegal wildlife trade and public land violators in Nigeria.
4. Community Engagement: Engage local communities and pet owners to promote responsible practices for pet ownership, humane treatment of animals, and sustainable wildlife conservation practices.
5. Support Rescue and Rehabilitation: Partner with animal rescue and shelter organisations to provide care and rehabilitation for abused, neglected, and abandoned animals.
6. Training and Capacity Building: Provide specialised training and resources to individuals and organisations focusing on animal rights, animal welfare and wildlife conversation.
7. Research and Data Sharing: Provide specialised research and data to promote knowledge and information on animal abuse, animal rights and welfare, and wildlife conversation in Nigeria.

Targeted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

The Animal Rights Matter Project focuses on the following SDGs

1. Goal 1: No Poverty
2. Goal 2: Zero Hunger
3. ⁠Goal 12: Sustainable Consumption
4. Goal 13: Climate Action
5. Goal 14: Life Below Water
6. Goal 15: Life on Land
7. ⁠Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Justification of the Animal Rights and Wildlife Conservation Project:

Across the world, animals face numerous challenges ranging from exploitation and abuse to habitat destruction and neglect. From the illegal wildlife trade to the mistreatment of domestic animals, the plight of our non-human counterparts demands urgent attention and action. According to the World Wildlife Fund, 200 species are lost annually, and by the end of the century, about 30% of the wild species will be extinct. Human actions are among the culprits for the decline in wildlife and natural ecosystems.

In Nigeria, while it is lawful to kill animals for food, the unlawful practice of killing and abusing animals for entertainment, religious, cultural, security and business needs is on the rise. There is no known conviction of an animal rights violator by any court in Nigeria. There is little or no data on the state of animal abuse across Nigeria, even in the face of overwhelming abuse of animals across Nigeria.

According to the United Nations Office for Drug and Crime (UNODC), “in 2021, Nigeria recorded 3 significant mixed wildlife products seizures, a total of about 105,384.11kg which include pangolin scales and claws, elephant ivory, processed timber, rhino horns and animal skulls suspected to be lions or other wildcats, by the Nigeria Customs Service. However, despite these large-scale seizures, the rate of prosecutions hasn’t quite caught up, with little or no significant wildlife crime prosecutions recorded.” Furthermore, the UNODC’s World Wildlife Crime Report 2020 states that “…in 2019 alone, at least 51 tons of pangolin scales seized globally originated from Nigerian ports compared to only 2 tons in 2015. Indeed, more than half of all seizures of pangolin scales worldwide could be traced back to Nigeria in 2019.”

In response to these challenges, the SabiLaw Foundation, through its program on animal rights and wildlife conservation (Animal Rights Matter), is promoting awareness and advocacy on animal rights in Nigeria.  The program is fueled by compassion, empathy, and a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of all life forms and the need for a healthy world.

The advancement of animal rights holds immense significance in the journey towards a more just and compassionate society. By standing up for the rights and welfare of animals, we not only fulfil our moral and ethical obligations but also contribute to creating a more harmonious and sustainable world for all beings. Let us unite our voices, actions, and hearts in this noble endeavour.

We envision a Nigeria where animals are treated with compassion, dignity, and respect, where their rights are enshrined in law and upheld by society. We can create a future where humans and animals coexist harmoniously, nurturing a more compassionate and sustainable world for future generations.

The Animal Rights and Wildlife Conservation Program is an initiative of the SabiLaw Foundation.