Wildlife conservation advocate says protecting snakes and other natural predators can help reduce rodent-borne diseases and strengthen public health

The Federal Government has been urged to introduce and enforce stronger legal protections for snakes and other wildlife species, with wildlife conservation expert and veterinarian Dr Mark Ofua arguing that preserving natural predators could play a decisive role in reducing the spread of Lassa fever and other zoonotic diseases in Nigeria.

Also read: Benue doctor tragically dies of Lassa fever

Speaking during a media chat to commemorate World Zoonoses Day, Ofua said the indiscriminate killing of snakes and other predator species had upset the natural balance of ecosystems, allowing populations of disease-carrying rodents to flourish.

The Snake Protection Lassa Fever campaign, he explained, is rooted in science rather than sentiment, as snakes are among the most effective natural predators of multimammate rats, the primary reservoir of the Lassa fever virus.

“The government should put deliberate laws and regulations in place to protect our snakes,” Ofua said.

“If you go to bushmeat markets, snakes are a major feature there. As we continue to decimate snake populations, rats multiply, increasing the risk of diseases.

“Instead of trying to eliminate rats directly, we should allow nature to do its work by protecting the animals that naturally control them.”

Lassa fever remains one of Nigeria’s most persistent public health challenges, with seasonal outbreaks recorded across several states.

The viral haemorrhagic disease is primarily transmitted to humans through exposure to food or household items contaminated by the urine or droppings of infected multimammate rats, although person-to-person transmission can also occur.

Against that backdrop, Ofua said conservation policies should be viewed as an important complement to disease prevention strategies rather than being considered solely as environmental measures.

Beyond snakes, he urged greater public awareness of the ecological value of owls, cats and other predators that naturally suppress rodent populations.

According to him, widespread fear and misconceptions have led many communities to kill these animals, weakening nature’s own system of pest control.

Ofua also warned that the extensive use of rodenticides was creating unintended environmental consequences by poisoning birds of prey that feed on infected rodents.

“The use of rat poison is decimating our owls and other birds of prey because they cannot distinguish poisoned rats from healthy ones. They eat them and die, weakening nature’s ability to control rodents,” he said.

The veterinarian further called for tighter regulation of Nigeria’s bushmeat trade, particularly restrictions on the hunting, sale and importation of primates because of their potential role in the transmission of Ebola and other zoonotic diseases.

He stressed that wildlife conservation should not be interpreted as an attempt to deny people access to protein but rather as a vital strategy for safeguarding biodiversity while reducing the risk of disease outbreaks.

“At Wild Africa, one of our maxims is ‘Keep them wild and keep us safe.’ If wildlife remains in its natural habitat, humans are less exposed to diseases transmitted from animals,” Ofua said.

His appeal comes as health experts globally continue to emphasise the interconnected relationship between human, animal and environmental health through the One Health approach, which advocates coordinated action to prevent diseases that spread between animals and people.

Also read: Lassa fever kills 99 Nigerians in first eight weeks of 2026

Ofua urged policymakers to strengthen conservation legislation, improve public education and promote sustainable wildlife management, arguing that healthy ecosystems remain one of the country’s most effective natural defences against future zoonotic disease outbreaks.