Wildlife Weekly

The “Big Five” is a term that is used to refer to the 5 African animals that early big game hunters considered most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt on foot in Africa. These animals include the lions, leopards, elephants, African buffalo, and rhinoceroses This week’s show will share interesting facts about the Big Five to impress the audience and then get them to understand that some have g...

A look at efforts to protect the last elephant population in Omo Forest 100 kilometers (60 miles) from downtown Lagos. Omo was protected as a government reserve nearly a century ago and is a UNESCO "biosphere reserve" of global importance, it is one of the last patches of pristine rainforest left near Lagos. While Omo’s 132,000 hectares (326,000 acres) of forest is granted official prote...

In this episode, Oiza visited the Old Oyo National Park, considered as a mixed heritage site with outstanding natural and cultural values. Interviews with rangers and the park management. It is the closest park to Lagos and worth exploring and bringing to the attention of Lagosians.

For this episode, we went in search of young people working to protect the environment, whether from plastic pollution or supporting conservation efforts across Lagos. We found Benedicta, a student of the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. Oiza interviews her on her activities around curbing plastic pollution as she tells the story of the tragic incident that spurred her to become an environment...

There are growing fears among conservationists that vultures are facing extinction. This is particularly troubling when you consider that vultures are among the most adaptable of all the world’s birds and have learned to live alongside human beings, serving as the clean-up squads in urban and rural areas alike.   In this episode, Oiza speaks to Mr. Desmond Majekodunmi, Owner of Lufasi Nature...

In this episode, Oiza speaks to Chinedu Mogbo and his mission to save endangered animals in Nigeria. Widespread hunting in Nigeria has seen the country's animal population continue to fall. With no effective laws against animal abuse and trade, Chinedu Mogbo is trying to combat it by setting up a sanctuary for animals.

Bushmeat species are ideal hosts for deadly diseases. For example, great apes are as adversely affected by the Ebola virus as humans. Ebola can be transmitted to humans from contact with contaminated meat and eating bushmeat is believed to be a cause of Ebola outbreaks in humans. With bushmeat becoming increasingly commercialized, this problem could quickly affect any of us. It is a huge possibili...

The West African Manatee is listed as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Incidental capture in nets, and hunting for meat, skin, bones and oil occurs throughout most of its range, including in coastal towns and villages in Nigeria.  According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, there are an estimated 10,000 manatees along the coast of West Africa, but...

What is the bushmeat crisis and why should we care? In this episode we sought to help the audience understand how the growing appeal of bushmeat is destroying wildlife and why this needs to stop, at least for endangered species. This episode featured interviews from bushmeat markets in Lagos, urban consumers on factors that influence their preference for bushmeat and views from experts responding...

As the impacts of the commercial bushmeat trade and wildlife trafficking increase with each passing year, it is important for young people to join the movement for positive change. By leading the discussion around bushmeat trade, illegal wildlife trafficking and ongoing conservation efforts , young people will become agents of change and spread awareness while also motivating others to take action...

This week on Wildlife Weekly, Oiza introduced Season II of Wildlife Weekly alongside an interview with WildAid's Nigeria representative Festus Iyorah. Festus spoke on reasons for the show and why young people need to listen to the show and also offered listeners an idea of the episodes they will be listening to in the course of the season.

This Episode from season 1 focuses on Pangolins; The world's most trafficked animal. It also features an interview with Dr. Ofua Mark wildlife veterinarian and pangolin expert, owner SaintMarks Animal Rescue Foundation. This programme is brought to you through a partnership between WildAid and Yabatech Radio 89.3FM Lagos.