Abstract
Decline in vulture populations have seriously reported in Nigeria as in other habits around the world. Human pressure from poisoning, hunting and trading for traditional medicine are key factors leading to decline of vulture population in northern Nigeria. This study examines vulture trading for traditional medicine as risk factor for the raptors population decline in Katsina with a view to providing baseline information for reviewing conservation policies in the State and Nigeria at large. The study is a survey research involving questionnaire administration and interview of seventy two stakeholders who were sampled using snowball sampling technique as follows: vulture stall owners (n=58) and abattoir employees (n=10) and traditional healers (n= 4). A total of five locations were surveyed based on the understanding that they possess the most specialized fetish markets and important centres of vulture trading in Katsina State. Percentage and mean were used for data analysis. The study found that trading of vulture is proliferating in the area as more than 50% of the stalls were opened between 2016 and 2019. It also revealed that 80% of the fetish stalls are located outside Katsina town for fear of authorities fighting illicit trade of vulture. Also revealed was that prices of vulture vary in space and depend on relationships with customers: a whole vulture costs N21000 (ca. $55.55) which soars as high as N27000 (ca. $75) outside Katsina town and N30000 (ca. $83) in times of scarcity. This study recommended that there is the need to carry out nationwide comprehensive assessment of trade in avifauna for improving conservation policies and practices in Nigeria.
 Keywords: carcasses, fetish stalls, traditional medicine, conservation
Highlights
METHODS AND METHODSStudy Area: Katsina is located approx.260 kilometers east of the city of Sokoto, 135kilometers northwest of Kano and 80.6 kilometers south east of Maradi in Niger Republic (Danjuma, 2011)
Biodiversity contributes significantly to human welfare through provision of consumable goods, and the supply of a wide range of services including cultural heritage, environment cleaning and much more (Davies, 2017).The diversity and abundance of life in a country greatly influences the functioning of its ecosystems and the services they provide and a determinant of its natural capital
With the exception of the aforementioned that published accounts of vulture sold for traditional medicine in markets throughout Nigeria, evidence suggests that the focus of most works is on status, population, habitat as well as nesting through occasional sightings and opportunistic observations
Summary
Study Area: Katsina is located approx.260 kilometers east of the city of Sokoto, 135kilometers northwest of Kano and 80.6 kilometers south east of Maradi in Niger Republic (Danjuma, 2011). It is located between latitude 12o59’N and 12o98’N and longitude 7o37’E and 7o61’E. Some example of notable trees found include Parkia biglobosa, Adansonia digitata, Khaya senegalensis, Fadherbia albida, Tamarindus indica, and Borassus aethiopum, Azadirachta indica, and Eucalyptus camaldulensis These trees have been supporting wildlife in the area including camel, birds and few borrowing species often found in formally protected areas. This study is a survey research involving questionnaire administration and interview of seventy two stakeholders as follows: vulture stall owners n=58 and abattoir employees n=10 (sampled using snowball sampling technique) and traditional healers n= 4. This was attributed to the rising demand of the centres due to surge in spiritual and degenerative ailments such as diabetes, cancer and psychiatric disorders
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