THE National Council on Tourism is a forum where the Minister of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, state commissioners for tourism and stakeholders across the spectrum meet to discuss and come out with action plan for the development of the tourism industry.

The last session held in Ilorin, Kwara State was not  an exception with most of the key players from both the private and public sectors in attendance. Diverse issues affecting the industry were deliberated on but one of the newest concerns at the session bordered on the state of the nation's zoos and protected wildlife parks.

In the presentation, entitled: 'The Position of Nigerian Zoos in national tourism development,' by the co-ordinator of the Zoological and Nature Park Stakeholders, Mr. Andy Ehanire, who is also the managing director and chief executive officer of Ogba Zoo and Nature Park, Benin City, Edo State, the stakeholders gave an extensive and incisive overview of zoo development and management in the country.

According to the group, the position of zoos and parks in tourism is very critical as they, among others, attract huge visitors and generate resources, serve educational, conservation and scientific purposes as well as medicinal with their vast array of flora and fauna.

Historically, the group argued that Nigeria boasts less than 10 zoos mostly established and run by the government, while private investment in the area is hardly encouraged or noticed. Perhaps the only privately run zoo, according to the group, is the Ogba Zoo, Benin City, which is run under Private – Public Partnership initiative programme of Edo State.

What is regrettable said the group is the state of neglect of the zoos with many of them going into extinction while the few that are still in existence, such as Ogba Zoo, Port Harcourt Zoological Garden and Jos Wildlife Park and Zoo are in a sorry state with their resources plundered, their land encroached on, lacking adequate funding and human capital to make them attractive and relevant to tourism development.

To revamp the zoos, the stakeholders called for infusion of huge sums of money by the government to the zoos for their upgrade while private investment and ownership of zoos and nature parks should be encourage. Among others, way forward suggested by the group include:

*World over, Zoos are aided through charities. Well-placed Nigerians and corporate organizations such as banks and oil companies should be encouraged to donate site-specific projects to Zoos;

*Government should provide reasonable intervention funds and grants for zoos, and where necessary, provide guarantees for approaching the capital markets for major recapitalization projects.

*The Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) should play a dynamic primary role in promoting the overall use of all zoos in the country for the benefit of the Nigerian tourist industry;

*Conservation education should be included in all school curricula, which should include regular visits to zoos; and

* With the global concern for bio-diversity loss, local communities, stakeholders and the general public need to be properly enlightened on their collective role to protect and preserve our heritage, of which zoos and nature parks are deserving of the pride of place.