Assessment of birds trade in urban Kano

Abstract

The bird trade puts pressure on both wild and domesticated populations, and several speciesare at risk of extinction due to this activity. The aim of this work was to find out the extent ofthe bird trade in urban Kano, Nigeria. A total of six markets were surveyed. The data wasobtained through interviews and observations. The conservation statuses of the traded birdswere assessed using the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red Listand the Nigeria Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, 2016. A total of 101 birds belonging to 18 species were found to be under trade in various forms inthe places surveyed, with Columba species (20 (19.8 %)) being the most encountered birds,while the least encountered were Balearica pavanina (1 (1.0 %)), Bubulcus ibis (1 (1.0 %)),Pavo muticus (1 (1.0 %)), and Crithagra mozambica (1 (1.0 %)). Most of the bird species aretraded as pets, and the traders source them from different places within and outside thecountry, with the majority (56.8 %) of the traders entering the trade through familyinheritance. Although most of the birds encountered belong to the least concern category ofthe IUCN, legally protected species are openly displayed in the places surveyed. To giveendangered birds a future and to identify species in urgent need of conservation interventions,the authorities concerned should consider regular market monitoring and continuous birdsurveys.