Attitudes to Bush Meat Trade and Wildlife Conservation at a Market Town in Lowland Rainforest, Rivers State, Nigeria

Aims: The study was undertaken to investigate the attitudes of residents (involved and not involved) to the bush meat trade and conservation at a market town in rural lowland forest, Rivers State, Nigeria.

Methodology: Against the background of meteoric rise in and alarming increase in the number of endangered and threatened mammalian species in Nigeria, studies were initiated at the main bush meat market town, Omagwa, in Rivers State, Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to a number of respondents: 103 (not involved in the trade), 42 (Vendors), 37 (Hunters), 08 (Middle men).

Results: Although some of the hunters had been in the trade for many years, more than 50% entered the occupation within the last 10 years. Nearly 70% of them were involved in other occupations before they became hunters; only 30% were unemployed before they ventured into hunting. More than 35% of vendors were civil servants. The attitudes of those not involved in the trade were diverse, but nearly 50% thought it was a threat to wildlife. With regards to conservation, nearly 50% offered very positive suggestions on wildlife management. Among hunters, about 60% suggested ways of conserving wildlife, although they were of the view that to enhance the trade, hunting needed to be intensified. Vendors were totally in support of conservation by different means.

Conclusion: All 190 respondents, with the exception of an individual not involved in the trade, were keen to ensure that future generations would have too many opportunities to behold the diversity of wildlife at Omagwa. It was therefore clear that they were interested in sustainability, one of the main goals of conservation, despite some contradictory statements. Suggestions on wildlife management policies are presented, beginning with enlightenment on the concepts of conservation, sustainability, wellbeing, etc., and other inter relationships.