Reasons to be Cheerful · Mens en maatschappij

Former Poachers Are Protecting One of Nigeria’s Last Rainforests

In Nigeria's Omo Forest Reserve, former hunters like Sunday Abiodun are now employed as rangers by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) to protect the rainforest. Leveraging their intimate knowledge of the forest and its wildlife, these individuals are instrumental in anti-poaching efforts and conservation.

Sunday Abiodun, who once hunted wildlife for sustenance and trade, now uses his deep understanding of Omo Forest Reserve to track poachers and remove snares. He transitioned to this role after noticing the decline of animal populations, such as buffalo and leopards, which were once common.

The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), established in the 1980s, works with government agencies and local communities to conserve Nigeria's forests and wildlife. Omo Forest Reserve, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve spanning approximately 130,500 hectares, is home to endangered species like forest elephants and chimpanzees but faces threats from illegal logging and poaching.

Dr. Mark Ofua, a wildlife veterinarian, highlights the severe impact of illegal logging, agricultural expansion, and poaching on Nigeria's ecosystems. The country lost about 240,000 hectares of natural forest in 2025 alone, exacerbating habitat loss.

The NCF's novel approach involves recruiting former hunters and poachers as rangers, believing their expertise is invaluable. Emmanuel Olabode, a project manager, states that this strategy strengthens wildlife protection and provides sustainable livelihoods. These recruits receive training in wildlife protection, patrol techniques, and community engagement.

Abiodun is among about 10 former poachers now serving as rangers. A regular salary and the declining productivity of hunting motivated many to switch careers. Through community engagement, some hunters have embraced conservation as a more sustainable livelihood and a means to restore the forest.

Rangers patrol the reserve on foot and by motorcycle, removing snares, apprehending poachers, and restoring degraded forest areas. Signs of recovery include camera trap footage of forest elephants returning to areas they hadn't visited in years, increased sightings of white-throated guenons, and vegetation reclaiming logged land.

Abiodun now engages with local communities, educating them on the ecological importance of wildlife, such as pangolins controlling insect populations and vultures preventing disease spread. This community work aims to foster collective responsibility for forest protection.

Despite these successes, challenges persist. The large size and difficult terrain of Omo make patrolling arduous for the ten rangers. Illegal logging and cocoa farming are now considered greater threats than poaching, with limited success in prosecuting offenders due to weak enforcement. Dr. Ofua notes that weak enforcement remains a significant obstacle to conservation efforts.

The program aims to break the cycle of poaching, which often runs in families, by creating conservationists who can pass on a new tradition to their children. Abiodun's personal transformation exemplifies this shift, as his skills now protect the rainforest for future generations.

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