Hunting, Trade and Utilization of Non-human Primates in Support Zone Communities of Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria

Abstract

Non-human primates are important to tropical biodiversity and many ecosystem functions, processes, and services. They are our closest living biological families, revealing crucial insights into the evolution of man's biology and behavior, serving a vital role in the cultures, habits, religions and other societal relevance. The study addressed hunting, trading of different species of non-human primates, their uses for food, medicinal and magical purposes, and identified their sex, age structures, part used and socio-economic values of these primates. A well-structured questionnaire guide, personal interview and market survey were used to collect data from the study areas. Purposive Sampling Techniques were used in the study; ten communities were used for the study base on proximity to the Kainji Lake National Park. Hunters, wild animals-based medicine traders were interviewed in each of these communities; Wawa, Malale, Woro, Babana, New Bussa, Ibbi, Sabon Pegi, Kulho, Fanga and Zugurma, to estimate the use values of these different primate species and their products, questions related to their origin, trade and their uses were asked from hunters, animal-based medicine traders and traditional healers. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics (bar chart and pie chart). The results revealed that three (3) different species of diurnal primate, Papio anubis, Erythrocebus patas and Chlorocebus aethiops tantalus, were hunted and used for food (meat), medicinal and spiritual purposes. The average market price of non-human primate carcasses in the study areas ranges from N 4,400 to N 8,500 naira, although it depends on the parts or size of the species. Non-human primates are usually hunted in and outside the park, and the instrument used for hunting, include; firearms (Dane guns and others), ammunition, bows and arrows, wire traps, nets, pitfall etc. The hunting, trade and socioeconomic uses of the primates have affected the animal population in the study areas. The uses and trade can expose people to zoonotic diseases from any of these studied primates to man. More awareness and advocacy programs should be organized within these communities on the need to preserve non-human primates from local extinction.