Abstract
Assessment of the population structure and reproductive status based on hunters’ returns to bush meat market were carried out in Ogun state, Nigeria. Information on animal species was collected before they are dissected or processed; names of species, age class, sex, weight and sources. After dissection, its reproductive status viz number of foetus and stages of development were observed. The data collected covered a period of three months. The result from the study showed that nine hundred and eighty-nine animals were returned by hunters to the market within the period. The highest hunters’ returns occurred at week four while the highest returns were also during the first four weeks. Canerat (Thryonomys swinderianus) and Maxwell duiker (Cephalophus maxwelli) were animals with the highest frequency returned. The result shows that 342 fetuses were recorded from all the species. The highest of fetuses was from Cane rat and Maxwell duiker. Seven orders of mammals were discovered in the population and rodentia had the highest percentage followed by artiodactyla. In terms of sex structure of the wild animal returned, female had the highest population (558) than male which has 431 animals. Also, for the age class structure, the adult had the highest frequency and percent than the sub-adult and juvenile. The patterns of returns by hunters from various sources showed that the highest animal return was from Tibo (157) and the least from Oba (8). The highest mean weight of animals returned was 19.0±0.00kg and the least mean weight of animal was 0.46±0.22kg. It is therefore, recommended that wildlife resources should be treated as an asset to be conserved, managed and given emphasis in land management for the benefit of all humanity. Vigorous efforts towards checking indiscriminate hunting of animals of all sexes and reproductive conditions must be pursued.
Highlights
It is on record that bush meat extraction in Africa is exceptionally high and West Africa in particular is noted for severe hunting of game animals, leading to extinctions of some animal species (Oates et al 2001; Brashares et al 2001)
The total populations of animal species encountered during the study were 989 animals and were made up of twenty-two different species of animal which include mammals, reptiles and avian species
The juvenile age class had the least population of 148 animals representing 15% (Table 2)
Summary
It is on record that bush meat extraction in Africa is exceptionally high and West Africa in particular is noted for severe hunting of game animals, leading to extinctions of some animal species (Oates et al 2001; Brashares et al 2001). Bush meat trade is socio-economically important, many authors such as Ape Alliance 1998; de M erode et al 2003; Fa et al 2003; Okiwelu et al 2009 have decried the unsustainable and illegal hunting and harvesting of bush meat for commercial purposes as a serious threat to the populations of these wild animals, including trade in them. Hunting for bush meat is principally a means of generating economic income it is used in household consumption (Loibooki et al 2012). In time past, hunting bush meat was primarily for household consumption as a source of protein, there is a paradigm shift from subsistence to commercial hunting for income nowadays (Ape Alliance, 1998; Fa et al 2002; de M erode et al 2004; Okiwelu et al 2009). This study was carried out to assess the structure and reproduction based on hunters’ returns, determine the species of animal harvested and the number foetus found in the carcasses
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
