The National Park Service (NPS) has called for urgent action to halt the critical decline of the West African lion population.
Dr. Ibrahim Goni, Conservator-General of the NPS, made the call on Friday in Abuja during the presentation of a scientific manuscript titled “Investigation into the Genetic Provenance of a Captive Lion Population in Nigeria: Implications for Conservation and Management.”
Goni said the NPS is intensifying conservation efforts through strengthened park security, expanded ranger patrols and targeted programmes to restore depleted wildlife populations.
He described the study as groundbreaking, noting that it unveiled crucial findings on the genetic origins of captive lions in Nigeria, with far-reaching implications for national and regional conservation strategies.
According to him, the research confirmed that the captive lions examined belong to the highly endangered West African phylogenetic clade, underscoring their irreplaceable genetic value.
He said the presentation outlined the rigorous genetic analysis that established the definitive lineage of the animals, stressing that the results are a significant contribution to scientific understanding of lion populations in West Africa — a region where wildlife remains critically endangered and geographically isolated.
“The presentation highlights the key conservation implications of the study, including the urgent need to prioritise the West African lion lineage,” Goni said.
He added that the findings provide a scientific basis for managing these captive lions and could guide future breeding programmes aimed at preserving genetic diversity within the clade.
The Conservator-General also noted that the study offers a powerful tool for strengthening conservation education and raising public awareness on the importance of protecting local biodiversity.
Goni expressed concern over the regulation of zoological gardens, wildlife parks and zoos in the country, calling for stronger standards for their establishment and operation. He also pledged increased collaboration with other zoos to enhance wildlife conservation efforts.
He commended the Federal Government for its continued support to the National Park Service.
Earlier, Mrs. Kehinde Abidemi, Deputy Conservator of Park, said biodiversity in Nigeria is declining due to weakened genetic variation, stressing that robust genetic management is essential.
She explained that the Aso Wildlife Collection captive facility in Abuja provided the basis for the investigation, as researchers sought to determine whether the lions found there were of pure Nigerian origin and to trace their exact lineage.
