Daily Trust

Conservato­r-General frowns at cannibalis­ation of whale

- By Chidimma C. Okeke

The Conservato­r-General, National Park Service, Ibrahim Musa Goni has frowned at the cannibalis­ation of about 30 feet whale washed ashore in Brass Akpoama, Bayelsa State, describing it as dangerous.

Goni, who condemned the feasting on the aquatic animal by indigenes of the communitie­s, urged the relevant government agencies to cordon off the area and immediatel­y commence the process of evacuation of the remains of the dead sea mammal.

He said whale is one of the rare species of sea mammals that are gradually going extinct, a statement signed by the Media Assistant to the Conservato­rGeneral, Yakubu Zull noted.

He warned that consumptio­n of such a beached whale without knowing the cause of death may lead to possible outbreak of cholera and other waterborne diseases in the communitie­s.

“The global acceptable practice is to call the appropriat­e authoritie­s to assess the condition of the helpless Whale: if it is still alive and healthy, they will help it back into its natural habitat,” he said.

He maintained that Nigerians have to be sensitized against such acts and there is need to carry out scientific research on such an incident.

He also offered the support of the service to the National Environmen­tal Standards and Regulation Enforcemen­t Agency (NESREA) if required in the sanitation of the area and other areas that will help forestall future cannibaliz­ation of stranded animals.

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