Effects of Natural and Compounded Rations on the Growth Performance of African Giant Land Snail (Archachatina Marginata)

A study was conducted to compare growth and feed utilization of Archachatina marginata fed fluted pumpkin leaves (Telifaria occidentalis), 20% crude protein diets, cocoyam (Xanthosoma maffafa) leaves, or 25% crude protein diets (diets I, II, III and IV respectively) for 120 days. The performance of the Archachatina marginata was assessed on the basis of weight gain, shell length, shell aperture, shell width and feed utilization. The Archachatina marginata fed on the diets showed progressive increase in body weight with no significant difference (p>0.05) among the mean body weight at the end of 120 days. Increase in shell length, shell aperture and shell width were recorded in all the treatments. Each of these parameters (shell length, shell aperture, shell width) showed no significant differences (p>0.05) among the treatments. There was no significant difference (P>0.5) among the daily weight gain, protein efficiency ratio (PER), and food conversion ratio (FCR) of the snail on the treatments

Food and Feeding Habits of Mona Monkey Cercopithecus Mona in Ayede/Isan Forest Reserve, Ekiti State

The feeding habits of mona monkey Cercopithecus mona in Ayede/Isan forest reserve, Ayede, Ekiti State, Nigeria were studied for six months. Direct observation was used in the data collection. The study area was visited two days per week between 0600-1100hours and 1600-1800hours for the six months in the forest reserve stretching from dry season to wet season. Data collected on the plant species and the parts of the plant species the animal feed upon revealed that mona monkey feeds on wide varieties of plant species and the parts of the plant consumed most is the fruits. It was noted that mona monkey is a social animal that moves and feeds in group. The mona monkey feeds mainly on fresh leaves, fruits and seeds of different plant species. Some of the plant species preferred by the mona monkey include: oil palm tree Elaeis guineesis, bitter mango Irvingia grandiforiola, kola Cola nitida. Most of the plant food materials the monkey feed upon are seasonal while some such as palm tree Elaeis guineesis are available for the animal to feed on throughout the year

Population status of olive baboon Papio anubis (lesson, 1827) in Kainji lake national park, Nigeria

The study assessed the population status of Olive Baboon Papio anubis in Kainji Lake National Park, in both sectors of the park. Direct count was carried out on the line transect where activities of Olive Baboon Papio anubis was observed during reconnaissance survey. It involves counting of individual or group of individual species sighted. While the indirect method involves gathering information on current locations for primate through consultation with experience Park Rangers, hunters, farmers and community leaders, counting of animal index such as feacal droppings, foot prints, calls, and feeding remnants, within each transect. These were related to relative abundance/distribution of Primates in a particular area at a particular time. Data was collected from November, 2017-August, 2019. Data was analyzed using distance software. Student t-test was used to compare between wet and dry seasons population. The results were presented in tables. The overall Population estimation revealed Papio anubis has the highest mean abundance (19 ± 0), population density (0.042 ± 0.000) and relative abundance of (6 ± 0) at Oli range and the species was not observed in the two ranges of Zugurma sector of the park. Individuals and troops recorded during the dry seasons exceeded those of the wet seasons in all the sectors during the study. The population structures (age and sex) adult female Olive Baboon has the highest mean of individual in all seasons with (140 ± 41) the least in the troop been the Sub-adult male with (32 ±6). The Olive baboons were observed to be social and a very popular attraction for park staff that resident in the Oli camp, visitors and researches alike. Keywords: Baboon, Population, status, age structure, sex structur

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

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\ub10.64 and 1.71\ub10.48 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\ub10.85 and 1.41\ub10.61 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