Wildlife conservation challenges in Okomu National Park, Nigeria

Okomu National Park, Nigeria, a rainforest ecosystem is known for its endemic white-throated monkey (Cercopithecus erythrogaster) and rare red-capped mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus) and a host of other forest mammals, some of which are endangered.  Since its inception the area has been encroached for reasons that need to be studied.  This study looked at the challenges of conserving the Park’s wildlife and other resources.  The Park’s record of arrests and prosecution from 1999 to 2011 was used as secondary data while a four point Likert-scale questionnaire was used to obtain primary data.  Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the arrests data and the personal data of respondents.  Inferential statistics were used for responses to the Likert statements. Farming was the main offence (67%) in 1999, the year with the highest recorded offence.  84% respondents opined that wild animals could only be conserved if their habitats were protected, while 91.1% believed that poor maintenance and management of protected areas could lead to loss of wildlife.  Respondents’ level of education significantly affected their attitude towards wildlife conservation (P = 0.021).  Age significantly affected the respondents’ orientation about poaching on wildlife (P= 0.035), and their perception about government’s roles on wildlife conservation (P = 0.024).  Wildlife conservation education and enlightenment programmes would likely help in sustainable wildlife harvesting.  Park staff could be more committed to protecting the resources when they are catered for appropriately.  Creation of buffer zone could reduce Park’s encroachment rate. Key Words: Park Encroachment, Wildlife Conservation, Okomu National Par

Human-monkey conflict in and around Lekki Conservation Centre, Lagos, nigeria

As human and wildlife habitats become more spatially close, the resource requirement overlaps and conflicts are inevitable. This study determined the incidence and nature of conflicts caused by the monkeys in Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC). One hundred and fifty structured questionnaires were administered to the staff of, and visitors to LCC, and community members around LCC. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. Cross tabulation and Pearson Chi-square test were used to determine the effects of personal data of respondents on their assessment of human-monkey conflicts. All respondents indicated sighting monkeys on daily basis, in both wet and dry seasons. Most (91.5%) of the respondents showed that the monkeys were not hunted, 80.0% indicated the monkeys caused harm, 53.8% was stealing of goods, while 26.2% was destruction of properties. The harm caused by the monkeys was significant (P<0.05) among respondents based on age (n=129), status (n=127), and educational levels (n=130). Non hunting of monkeys was significant (P<0.05) among respondents based on status and educational levels. Non reduction in the population of monkeys was significant (P<0.05) based on status of respondents. Human-monkey conflict was established in LCC with neighbouring residents and visitors suffering the negative effects. The carrying capacity of the monkey population that could be sustained within LCC without causing harm to neighbouring communities and visitors should be determined. Keywords: Human-monkey conflict, Lekki Conservation Centre, mona monkey, Strict Nature Reserv

Population composition and density of Mona monkey in Lekki Concervation Centre, Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria

The mona monkey (Cercopitecus mona) is the only non-human primate in Lekki Conservation Centre (LCC), a 78 hectares Strict Nature Reserve  located in a peri-urban part of Lagos, Nigeria. This study aimed to of population composition and density of mona monkeys in LCC. Total count  method using woods walk ways and perimeter road as line transects was used for the enumeration. The censuses were conducted for 27 days in October, November, and December, 2018. Counts were carried out between 06:30 and 10:30 hours for 22 days, and between 16:30 and 19:00 hours for five days. Monkeys were enumerated by counting all sighted individuals on both sides of the walk ways, and other study points. Data was  subjected to analysis of variance to compare the monthly means, and statistically significant means (P < 0.05) were separated using Tukey post hoc test. A total of 3.65 km was walked and 333 monkeys in 12 troops were enumerated. There were 11 alpha males, 61 adult females, 77 adult males, 163 juveniles, and 21 infants. The highest troop size was 32.75 ± 4.11; the lowest was 0.20 ± 0.42, while the population density was 4.27/km2. There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in number of individuals in troops T4, T6, T8, and Nature Station. With such a viable population within the isolated forest area of LCC, regular census of the monkeys is recommended to establish its carrying capacity and sustainable harvesting of the species. Keywords: Carrying capacity, Lekki Conservation Centre, mona monkeys, population composition, population densit

Human – monkey interaction on a University campus in Nigeria: An avenue for zoonotic disease transmission at the human wildlife interface?

Monkeys are potential sources of infectious diseases to humans. Mona monkeys frequently gain access to human dwellings within the University of Lagos campus. This study was conducted to assess the level of human-monkey interaction with a view to determining if such interaction will create an avenue for zoonotic disease transmission from monkeys to humans resident in this human-wildlife interface. Information on frequency and closeness of human – monkey interaction was gathered from 395 respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews. These were used to determine respondents’ attitude towards the monkeys as well as their knowledge on monkey related zoonoses. Responses from the questionnaire were entered into and analysed using EPI INFOTM version 7.2.0.1 statistical software. Categorical data were summarised as tables and bar chart. Chi Square, Fisher exact tests and binary logistic regression were used to test for significance and deduce relationships among variables. Statistical significance was determined at 95% Confidence interval. Most of the respondents (63.5%) were undergraduates; while 70.1% of all respondents were residents on campus. Only 19.8% and 6.6% of the respondents had close and risky contacts respectively, while 11.1% and 8.3% had negligible and minimal contacts respectively. Majority of the respondents (69.1%) had inadequate knowledge about monkey related zoonoses Only 39% were aware that monkeys could transmit disease to humans and 2% believed that monkeys could not transmit diseases to humans. Campus residents have significantly closer contacts with monkeys than visitors (p<0.05, OR=0.32). Residents were three times more likely to have had any form of contact with monkeys than non-residents. There was no significant difference between the frequency of risky human-monkey contacts among visitors and residents. The low level of awareness about zoonotic disease among the respondents could be ameliorated through public health awareness campaigns by health workers and conservationists.Keywords: Conservation, Human–wildlife interface, Mona monkeys, Public health, Zoonosi

Availability and Co-Substrate Potential of Typha latifolia for Biogas Production in Funtua, Katsina State, Nigeria

In order to reduce global warming through fossil fuel utilization, biogas production from biodegradable biomass seems a sustainable alternative. This study evaluated the availability and co-substrate potential of T. latifolia for biogas production in Funtua, Katsina State Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique was used in selecting the wards that were used for this study. A 1204 metres transect was used for 32 quadrats; 19 of these were laid on the 953m contiguous land area at intervals of 50m; 9 quadrats covered 450m, 5 quadrats were on 250m, 3 on 153m, and 2 on 100m. The remaining 13 transects were laid on the 251m un-contiguous patches. Coordinates of various potentials sites were recorded using Global positioning system. There were an average of 27 T. latifolia stands per m2. A total of 32,388 of T. latifolia stands were recorded in the study area; Dukke ward (23,968), Makera (8,205) and Maska 216. T. latifolia is available in lqrge quantities, and a potential co substrate in anaerobic digestion for biogas production in Funtua. It is recommended that the study should be replicated in time later to establish a trend of the T. latifolia species in terms of population

Effects of source and level of nitrogen on the utilization of sorghum stover by Yankasa rams

The effects of cotton seed cake (CSC) or urea in supplying either 12% or 16% crude protein on sorghum stover utilization by Yankasa rams was studied for twelve weeks, using a 2 x 2 factorially designed experiment. Nutrient intake, digestibility, weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were monitored. In vitro volatile fatty acid (VFA) and ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations were also determined. The result of the study indicated that the source and/or level of nitrogen (or crude protein) significantly (P<0.05) affected crude protein intake (CPI), digestible crude protein intake (DCPI) and in vitro NH3-N concentration. Total feed intake, live weight gain (LWG), FCR and DCPI were significantly (P<0.05) affected by source x level interaction. Acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) intakes, CP, ADF and NDF digestibilities, digestible ADF and NDF intakes, stover intake and in vitro VFA concentration were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by either main effects of CP source and level or their interaction. The rams on the 16% CSC and 12% urea ration gained more weight and had lower FCR than those on the 12% CSC and 16% urea. The 16% CSC ration gave the best result in terms of sorghum stover supplementation. The 12% urea treatment which also had a good result in terms of weight gain and FCR could also be recommended for use.Keywords: Source, level, nitrogen, stover, utilization, ram

The distribution of Mona monkeys (Cercopithecus mona, schreber, 1774) in the University of Lagos campus, Akoka, Lagos

Mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona) is the only non-human primate in the University of Lagos campus that has been in existence on the site before the establishment of the institution in 1962. Infrastructural developments seem to have confined the animal to small, relatively less disturbed forest areas. This study was carried out to investigate the population distribution of mona monkeys at various study sites in the university campus. Population estimates were conducted in five mona ranges through the transect method. The highest populations of 37 and 31 were recorded at the forests behind the Faculty of Arts Block and University of Lagos Guest Houses, respectively. Mean daily occurrence were highest at these sites between 07:00–09:00 and 13:01–14:00 hours. Relatively, high occurrences were observed at the sites behind the Church and Mosque, and the Faculty of Environmental Sciences between 09:01 12:00 h. Mona populations were significantly different (P<0.05) between the study sites. Mona monkey habitat restoration, proper forest management and law enforcement should be employed to conserve the present population of this monkey.Key words/phrases: Cercopithecus mona, Nigeria, Occurrence, Populatio