An environmentalist has condemned the increasing killing of migratory bats around the Kaduna State House of Assembly (Lugard Hall) garden by local hunters.
Dr Piman Hoffman, the Head of Scientific Research and Wildlife Protection in Africa, has urged all stakeholders in wildlife conservation to join efforts to protect these bats, which migrate from various locations to give birth in the historical garden.
Dr Hoffman explained that millions of migratory bats are drawn to the garden due to its cool climate and the presence of tall trees, making it an ideal place for them to give birth.
However, he noted that local hunters’ attacks on the bats are now threatening their survival. These bats, he stated, return in large numbers after their babies are born, which is vital for sustaining their population.
In a statement addressing the ongoing attacks, Dr Hoffman emphasised the need for a united effort from wildlife conservationists, the state government, and local communities to put an end to these killings.
He pointed out that the bats rely on the natural environment of the garden to give birth and that hunting them is negatively impacting their population and behaviour.
Dr Hoffman also reported that local hunters are using catapults to kill the bats, with up to 50 to 60 bats being killed daily. This, he warned, poses a serious threat to the species’ existence and the broader ecological balance.
He called on the Kaduna State Government to urgently deploy security forces to arrest the hunters responsible for the killings.
Additionally, Dr Hoffman urged the local population to take a stand against the hunting of migratory bats and called for an awareness campaign, both online and offline, to protect the bats from further harm.
He also criticised the practice of hunting the bats for meat, with one hunter justifying the action by claiming that bat meat is considered a delicacy due to its sweetness.
The situation in Kaduna highlights a global issue. In 2022, the United Nations warned that nearly one million plant and animal species worldwide are at risk of extinction due to factors such as climate change, pollution, and human activities. This underscores the importance of immediate and collective action to protect vulnerable species like these migratory bats.
