Conservation Status and Habitat Preferences of Common Warthog (Phacochoerus Africanus) in Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria

A.I Adeyemo,O.E Olaniyi,S.R Ajayi,A.J Adeola,O.A Akande,O.K Azeez,B.N Ejidike

doi:10.4314/jasem.v25i1.12

Abstract

This study assessed the conservation status and habitat preference of Common warthog in Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria using direct sighting and line transect method. The abundance estimate and encounter rate of common Warthog in the study area from 2018-2019 showed that year 2018 recorded 213 individuals at an encounter rate of 0.38/km while year 2019 recorded 184 individuals at an encounter rate of 0.32/km while the mean abundance estimate of common Warthog are 4.65±0.64 and 1.71±0.48 which represents 156 and 58 individuals at encounter rate of 0.55/km and 0.20/km in the wet season and dry season of year 2018 compared to year 2019 with average abundance estimate value of 4.00±0.85 and 1.41±0.61 which represents 135 and 48 individuals at an encounter rate of 0.47/km and 0.17/km for wet and dry season respectively. The mean age structure and sex ratio of the observed warthog population during dry and wet seasons revealed that juveniles had highest mean of age structures among the populations observed across the seasons. The habitat preference of common warthog revealed that they are mostly found in mixed woodland and open savanna with 112 observation and the lowest was recorded in the outcrop vegetation and open savanna with 21 individuals.in the wet season. During the dry season, mixed woodland/open savanna and Riparian grassland had the highest sightings of 45 and 33 individuals each. The outcrop vegetation/open savanna had the lowest observation of 1 individuals only. The study also recommends that more aspect of the ecology of the animal should be studied in details and emphasis should be placed on the habitat requirements. Keywords: Conservation, Estimate, Status, Warthog

Highlights

IntroductionThe major causes of declines in wildlife in developing countries are human population growth, habitat fragmentation, inadequate land use practices and management, lack of economic alternatives, social and political conflicts, and unsustainable use of resources (Myers et al 2000; Kideghesho et al 2007; Plumptre et al 2008)
Conservation of wildlife is in crisis as species are declining worldwide
The mean age structure and sex ratio of the observed warthog population during dry and wet seasons in OONP are revealed in table4, in which the juveniles had highest mean of age structures among the populations observed during the wet season with 10.75 ± 1.92 and this is closely followed by adult female with 10.38 ± 2.11 while the least was recorded for sub adult male with 3.00 ± 0.93

Summary

Introduction

The major causes of declines in wildlife in developing countries are human population growth, habitat fragmentation, inadequate land use practices and management, lack of economic alternatives, social and political conflicts, and unsustainable use of resources (Myers et al 2000; Kideghesho et al 2007; Plumptre et al 2008) The magnitude of these threats is greater in areas where a large proportion of human population relies directly on natural resources to sustain livelihoods ( protein intake) or for economic returns (e.g. trade of bushmeat, ivory or trophies) (Kideghesho et al 2007; Plumptre et al 2008). This study assess the conservation status and habitat preference of Common warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) in Old National Park, Nigeria

Methods

Results

Conclusion