NEW! REVISED EDITION- CHAPTER 7- LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS AND GAME MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER 7




CONCLUSION



The implication of the changing attitude on our treatment of animals cannot be overlooked. There is nothing new in individuals or indeed whole societies showing compassion for other animals and being concerned to minimize the sufferings inflicted on animal by human. For example, the attitude of the more sophisticated Africans was summarized by an African politician who considered that the presence of wild animals merely served to remind him of the primitive past he earnestly wished to forget. To some people, game is one of the many gifts of nature to mankind in general.



Allegations have also been made that scientists are reluctant to bother themselves with alternative methods as long as animals are freely available to them. But so far, a number of scientists have agreed that cruel and unnecessary experiments are sometimes done and that the pursuit of academic knowledge without considering the suffering inflicted on animals is improper for a scientist with a moral conscience that there should be a meeting ground somewhere in the middle for people like these and absolute defenders of animal rights (given enough flexibility on both sides).



The notion that animal possesses intrinsic rights is gaining popularity. Even though most rights are relative, there is the absolute right of animals to humane treatment and consideration by man’s new understanding of his own status on earth. However, interest in the management of wildlife as a natural renewable resource and a source of varying economic benefits, the ecological principles and the inter-relationship of flora, fauna and natural environment within the eco-system and the danger to the system from man’s interference have become widely appreciated and profitably assimilated.



The recent Tsunami experience is thought-provoking. Tsunami, a natural disaster that claimed many lives and property in Asia recently remains a most instructive paradigm of the essence and significance of preserving the Mother Nature when according to the Cable News Network (CNN) there were no wild animal casualties in this recent natural disaster in Indonesia. This sounds most incredible. The CNN further reported that the wild birds were first to head for higher ground long before the seas hit the land. The birds perched on the trees on the highest ground of each particular island, towering high above man’s impertinence to the impending calamity.



All the other wild animals took their hint from the birds and headed for the highest ground on each Island, and, these included very many “domesticated” elephants that were tied up with chains to low land. These elephants broke free from their chains and headed for higher ground right along with the wild animals on the Island.



Undoubtedly, these wild animals are in harmony with nature and could sense a change in the earth. Their impeccable natural sensors informed them of the imminent danger of the sea emboweling its fury on the earth and they needed to pay attention to their sensor (what we people call intuition) to survive.



The animals’ response to Tsunami no doubt has taught humanity a lesson from nature that would make us healthier, safer and more in harmony with Mother Nature who has never been known to let her children and animal down as long as they put their faith and trust in her like the animals did.



It is for this reason that those people who strongly believe that mother nature remedies the world’s vices will work on having a better and sustainable environmental friendly programmes designed to teach man the art of becoming conscious of their environment by conserving and/or preserving God’s gifts of flora and fauna.



The Tsunami has once again enlivened the long held belief that Mother Nature does not work in vain as witnessed in this natural disaster and nature’s unheeded warning by man. One may then ask rhetorically: Are the animals dumb as commonly held by man? And who is “dumb” after all?



Centuries from now, it will not matter the house we live in or how much wealth or riches accumulated in a lifetime. But the world will be better because we help some of God’s lower animals on this earth during our time here. That is a worthy gospel to preach and spread!



Nigerians should emulate good deeds of their fellow citizens who have distinguished themselves one way or the other in taking good care of what God has entrusted into their care, attention and protection or to at least give an impression of keeping the commandment of God as expressed in the biblical saying that a righteous man looks after his beast”.



In this connection, it is worthy of note to mention the emotional activities of the daughter of Late Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti – Nike who was reported to have shunned food for days over the death of her dog, a German Shepherd Dog (Alsatian); she took the carcass to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital Mortuary for two days and thereafter retrieved it and gave it a befitting burial1. Little did she know that she was complying with Articles 2(a) and 13(a) of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Animals, 1978!



Aside from the above, an American real estate billionaire, Mrs. Leona Helmstey in New York, left twelve million U.S. Dollars (six million pounds sterling) in her will for her female Maltese dog named “Trouble” for her care and to be entombed alongside herself and her deceased husband in their mausoleum2.





FOOTNOTES



1. This Day, Thursday, September 24, 1998.

2. The Guardian, Saturday, September 2, 2007 page 6.