The Director General of National Commissions for Museums and Monuments has called on Nigerians to preserve Chimpanzees and other animals from going into extinction.
Mallam Yusuf Abdallah, made the call at the National Zoological Garden in Jos, on Saturday, 11th May, 2013 during the 50th birthday party of two Chimpanzees,Bobby and Paulina.
According to the Director General who was represented by, Dr. Caroline Ezukeke, “We have to draw our attention that many of these animals are going extinct and it’s our responsibility, to preserve them.
Adding that, “Its part of our duty as human beings to ensure that the ecosystem, in which we find ourselves, is in a state of equilibrium and peace.
“It is not an oversight or an under sight that we are gathered here today, right in the Zoo to celebrate another group of people, you may call them a lower species, but they are people too, because they have life.
“It is part of the Museum’s tradition to also cater for both the cultural as well as the natural environment, in which we find ourselves. And so this birthday is not out of place, because, people would be wondering, why celebrate the birthday of animals.
The Director General further stated that, celebration of the birthday of the two chimpanzees (Bobby and Paulina) was an avenue created to draw the attention of everyone to wildlife or the ecosystem.
Abdallah further explained that, the occasion was to let man know that he is not the only one on the planet earth, and doesn’t have the monopoly of the earth.
He tasked people to be conscious of the animals around them, stressing that even if it is a “lizard”. “I will want all of us to think into our hearts and see how we can sustain the wildlife around us, be them in the zoo or in the wildlife park, or wherever we find them around us”.
Meanwhile, one of the retired staff of the Zoo, who gave his name as Mr. Abraham, said he retired last year, after 35 years in service.
Speaking to DailyPost, he said, “I met these Chimpanzees here when I was employed, the other one died last year, and I retired and left them here.
Adding that, “I was told they were brought here in 1963, which means they are even more than 50years old.
There was a beautiful cake made for them and many school children were present at the occasion.
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