Primary purposes of this study were to determine:
which wildlife species are being used by the people, in
what quantity, and during what season; the effect of religion,
culture, and tribal festivals on game species
utilized; the game species utilized or consumed in different
ecological zones; which game species and parts of wild
animals are used for healing and preventive medicine in
each ecological zone; and to assess the economic and recreational
values of the utilized wildlife.
The three ecological zones surveyed for consumptive
uses of wildlife resources in Nigeria were: savanna
(Bauchi, Plateau, Niger, and Kwara states), deciduous
(Anambra and Bendel states), and rain forest (Oyo and Cross
River states). For nonconsumptive uses, three national
parks (Kainji Lake National Park, Yankari Game Reserve, and
Jos Wildlife Park) and four zoological gardens (Ibadan,
Jos, Enugun, and Ogba) were surveyed. Data were collected
from farmers, hunters, and visitors in each of the conservation
areas through a person-to-person questionnaire
interview. This study confirmed that small game were the most
abundant wild animals in the three zones surveyed and
most of them were located in the savanna region. This
study indicates that a major proportion of animal protein
consumed by farmers and hunters in the regions came from
wild animals. Farmers and hunters in the savanna preferred
using small game (rodents) and big game (duikers) more than
in the other zones.
Wildlife species were used more during installation
ceremonies (of a new chief, Emir, Oba, and Obis) than in
other cultural festivals. In the rain forest more species
were used for installation ceremonies than in any region
surveyed. During Muslim festivals in Nigeria, farmers
rarely used wildlife species, but some were used to supplement
income. Christians used many different wild animals
for religious festivals, but more were used during the
Easter period in the deciduous region than the rain forest
and savanna regions.
Expenditures per visitor in the three national parks
showed more per capita expenditures from foreigners than
Nigerians. The number of nights stayed in the national
parks and game reserves is the major factor in determining
how much money the visitor spent.