The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) has evacuated plastic-related waste and other dirt discharged at the famous Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State as a move to preserve the environment and protect the wild animals from feeding on them.
The State Project Manager of Wildlife Conservation Society, Nura Yusuf Ahmad, who disclosed this during the 2024 World Rangers Day celebration, at the Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi, emphasised the need to protect wildlife to provide a clean and healthy tourist destination in line with global best practices.
Ahmad said the WSC, in collaboration with Yankari Game Reserve, chose to clean the reserve to reduce human waste like plastics, rubber, leathers and other garbage.
“Instead of the normal parade and other ceremonies during the World Rangers Day, we decided to embark on environmental sanitation of the reserve because the wastes have their own side effects on the animals.
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“The space across the reserve is for wildlife and whenever visitors and tourists visit they litter the environment,” he said and urged visitors to avoid dumping refuse, such as empty bottles of drinks and water sachets, among others, to improve the lives of wildlife and other natural resources at the game reserve.
He observed that the security rangers play a crucial role in protecting wildlife, hence the need for the state government to support them with better working conditions and resources at Yankari Game Reserve, saying, “When they are fully equipped, they can provide the needed services.”
In his remarks, the General Manager of Yankari Game Reserve, Muhammad Nasiru Yusuf, thanked the Wildlife Conservation Society for the decades of support to the reserve and the rangers, emphasising the importance of rangers in monitoring wildlife and patrolling the reserve.
He also appealed to the Bauchi State government to recruit more staff that will aid in safely guarding the animals in the reserve.
Speaking on behalf of the rangers, Muhammad Ali Panti, disclosed that the presence of WCS had restored sanity and improved security at the reserve because, “they’re providing us with tools and equipment to discharge our responsibilities of protecting the game reserve.
“They have also provided food, uniforms and patrol vehicles and healthcare services for rangers to effectively carry out their duties with ease, apart from monthly allowances. We have really witnessed positive change with the WCS interventions.”
Ali Panti further disclosed that the major challenge faced by the rangers include the activities of local hunters and poachers, timber syndicate felling trees and herders rearing their cattle in the reserve.
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