Effects of two management systems on the growth performance of juvenile African giant land snails (Archachatina marginata)

The study of the effects of two management systems on the Growth Performance of juvenile African Giant Land Snails (Archachatina marginata) was carried out in the wildlife domestication unit of the Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife Management, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. One hundred and twenty (120) African giant land snails (Archachatina marginata) of average body weight 36.35g ± 0.32g were used for the study. Sixty (60) snails were raised in an intensive system of management while sixty (60) snails were raised in an extensive system of management. Each of the system of management served as the treatment and each treatment was replicated three (3) times with twenty (20) snails per replicate and sixty (60) snails per treatment in a Completely Randomize Design. Results showed that there was a significant difference at (p<0.05) in the weight gain of the Archachatina marginata of the two management systems. The intensive management system had a higher weight gain of 136.53g with mean value of 5.25 while the extensive management system had a weight gain of 106.53g with mean value of 4.10. There was also a significant difference at (p<0.05) in the shell length increment and shell width increment of the Archachatina marginata of the two management systems. The snails in the extensive management system had a higher shell length increment of 9.94cm with mean value of 0.38 while the snails in the intensive management system had a shell length increment of 8.02cm with mean value of 0.31. The snails in the extensive management system had a higher shell width increment of 10.46cm with mean value of 0.40 while the snails in the intensive management system had a shell width increment of 9.02cm with mean value of 0.35. The Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) of the snails in the intensive system of management was 1.99. It was concluded that formulated feed used in feeding the snails in the intensive system of management contributed to the higher weight gain.Keywords: Juvenile, Archachatina marginata, intensive system, extensive system, weight gai

Influence of two management systems on the growth performance of adult African giant land snails (Archachatina marginata)

African gaint land snails are important as means of alleviating acute protein shortage in Nigeria livestock Industries. The present study aimed to study the influence of intensive and extensive management systems on the growth Performance of adult African Giant Land Snails (Archachatina marginata) was carried out in the wildlife domestication unit of the Department of Forest Resources and Wildlife Management, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. Ninety  African giant land snails (A. marginata) of average body weight 160.31g ± 0.38g were used for the study. The snails were grouped into two- Group A and Group B. 45 snails in group A were raised in an intensive system of management while 45 snails in group B were raised in an extensive system of management. The data collected on weight gain, shell length increment and shell width increment during the experiment were subjected to student t-Test at 5% significant level. Results showed that there was a significant difference at (p<0.05) in the weight gain. The intensive management system had a higher weight gain of 128.96g with mean value of 4.96 while the extensive management system had a weight gain of 88.37g with mean value of 3.40. There was no significant difference at (p>0.05) in the shell length increment. The snails in the extensive management system had the higher shell length increment of 5.32cm with mean value of 0.20 while the snails in the intensive management system had a shell length increment of 2.43cm with mean value of 0.09. There was a significant difference at (p<0.05) in the shell width increment. The snails in the extensive management system had the higher shell width increment of 9.31cm with mean value of 0.36 while the snails in the intensive management system had a shell width increment of 4.30cm with mean value of 0.17. The snails in the intensive system had a Feed Conversion Ratio of 5.03. For better growth performance of A. marginata in terms of weight gain, snail farmers should raise their snails in an intensive system of management and formulated diet should be used in feeding the snails along side with natural feed such as leaves and fruits

Tourists’ Assessment of Sustainable Ecotourism Development: A Case Study of National Children’s Park and Zoo, Abuja, Nigeria

The study of tourists’ assessment of sustainable ecotourism development was carried out in National Children’s Park and Zoo, Abuja, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select one hundred and ten (110) tourists over 18 years which made up the respondents for the study. One hundred and ten (110) copies of questionnaire were administered to the respondents. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean and presented as tables, graphs and charts. The results revealed that the highest number of respondents (64.55%) got to know about the zoo from family and friends while the least (1.82%) from television and radio each. The majority of the respondents (36.36%) are visiting the Zoo for the first time, 28.18% are visiting for the second time while the least number of respondents (2.73%) are visiting for the sixth time. The highest number of respondents (56.36%) visited the Zoo for the purpose of Leisure/Recreation, 27.27% visited for the purpose of meetings, 10% for holiday, and 6.36% for Research/Education. The results also revealed that 67.27% of the respondents were satisfied with their visit to the Zoo, 19.09% were indifferent, and 13.64% were not satisfied. Majority of the respondents (70.91%) would visit the Zoo again and a very high proportion of the respondents (90%) would recommend the Zoo to others. It is therefore recommended that more funds should be allocated to the National Children’s park and zoo to help get new facilities to attract more tourists and employ more skilled staff