Intl. J. of Mol. Evol. and Biodivers. 2013, Vol. 3, No.3, 11-14
http://ijmeb.sophiapublisher.com
11
Research Report Open Access
Exploitation of Wild Animals in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun
State, South West, Nigeria
A.L.A. Shotuyo , O.O. Oduntan
Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
Corresponding author email:
aderemishotuyo@yahoo.com
;
Authors
International Journal of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, 2013, Vol.3, No.3 doi: 10.5376/ijmeb.2013.03.0003
Received: 15 Apr., 2013
Accepted: 22 Apr., 2013
Published: 09 Jul., 2013
© 2013 Shotuyo and Oduntan, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Preferred citation for this article:
Shotuyo and Oduntan, 2013, Exploitation of Wild Animals in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, Ogun State, South West, Nigeria, International Journal
of Molecular Evolution and Biodiversity, Vol.3, No.3, 11~14 (doi: 10.5376/ijmeb.2013.03.0003)
Abstract
The study investigated the reasons for exploiting, utilization and destruction of wild animals in Obaemi Owode Local
Government Area of Ogun State, south west Nigeria. Well-structured questionnaires were used to obtain information from various
categories of respondents, farmers; hunters, male, female, young and old etc. Wild animals were exploited and utilised for food
(34.5%),
sale (31.3%), medicine (15.6%), tradition (12.0%), farmland protection (5.0%) and trophy (0.9%). The animals mostly
affected were
Tryonomys swinderianus
,
Protoxerus stangeri
,
Cephalophus
spp.,
Squamata
spp.,
Cricetomys gambianus
and
Lepus
spp.. These are still seen due to their size, short gestation period and their large litter size. While animals such as
Loxodonta cyclotis
,
Syncerus caffer
,
Pan troglodities
and
Phacochoerus aethiopicus
are no longer seen in the area. Other factors responsible for the high
rate of wild animal exploitation are: unemployment, which drove must youth to hunting as the only means of survival, poverty
among the population and low level of awareness of wildlife conservation education. Creation of employment, effective wildlife
legislation, wildlife resources protection and public enlightenment through conservation education would go a long way in reducing
the problem.
Keywords
Obafemi Owode; Utilization; Wild animals; Exploitation
Introduction
Wildlife as a heritage and endowment to Nigeria is
indisputable in many respects. Over the years, it has
contributed to the socio economic and environmental
development of the country. Wild animals in form of
bushmeat constitute a principal source of protein for
people living in the rural areas (Charter, 1970; Asibey,
1974;
Afolayan, 1989, unpublished data). Other
importance of wildlife includes, tourism, revenue from
export of wildlife by-products (Asibey, 1974),
employment opportunities, local participation,
education, research and conservation.
Man has always rule over all other forms of life. He
obtains the basic supply for existence that is food,
fibre and raw materials for the production of goods
and services. Wildlife resources are being exploited
and destroyed by man for various purposes and as a
result many wild animal species have become extinct
(
Shotuyo et al., 2012).
Many species have been beyond the brink of
extinction by the direct and indirect consequence of
human activities. Right from ancient time when the
number of animals affected was quite small, but since
1 600,
the number of animals killed or even driven
into extinction by habitat destruction and unregulated
hunting has increased rapidly (Burton, 1981). The
exploitation and destruction of wild animals are the
same throughout the world, but the purpose and needs
of these animals varies from one community to
another (Burton, 1981). For example, hunting has
continued throughout the times for foods, raw
materials for industries, sales or for culture e.g.
Egungun Festival in South Western Nigeria and
medicinal purpose (Oduntan et al., 2012)
Man and wild animals conflict has also threatened the
survival of certain species because of the danger they
pose to man and their properties (e.g. hyena, grass mouse,
etc.) or because of cultural reason and belief e.g. India
python (
Python analurus
)
and giant rat (
Cricetomys