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
Author    Correspondence author
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

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)

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.

Obafemi Owode; Utilization; Wild animals; Exploitation