Abundance and Distribution of Large Mammals in the Upper Ogun Game Reserve, Oyo State, Nigeria

Home , Kob, Red river hog

WellBeing International WBI Studies Repository

1983

T. A. Afolayan University of Ibadan

K. R. N. Milligan University of Ibadan

S. O. Salami International Livestock Centre for Africa

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Recommended Citation Afolayan, T.A., Milligan, K.R.N., & Salami, S.O. (1983). Abundance and distribution of large mammals, in the Upper Ogun Game Reserve, Oyo State, Nigeria. International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems, 4(1), 33-44.

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duction, or other aspects of this society goes beyond the basic concept of rights. Rather, I feel that we have a moral re Abundance and Distribution sponsibility toward animals, and that I have made a substantial commitment to of Large Mammals in the this responsibility. The principles of proper animal use Upper Ogun Game Reserve, in colleges of veterinary medicine can not guarantee humane treatment in bio Oyo State, Nigeria medical research. However, by setting a good example, our professionals can continue to contribute to improvement T.A. Afolayan, K.R.N. Milligan, and S.O. Salami for the future, through education. In this study, three indirect methods [counts of animal droppings, footprints, and References tracks) were used as indices to estimate the abundance and distribution of large mam The Future of Animals, Cells, Models, and mals in the Upper Ogun Game Reserve, which is located in a typical Southern Guinea Systems in Research, Development, savanna zone of Nigeria. Thirteen animal species were recorded; kob, bushbuck, harte Education, and Testing (1977) Pro beest, roan antelope and duicker were the most abundant. The distribution of large ceedings of a Symposium, Institute mammals appears to be controlled by several factors: accessibility to the River Ogun of Laboratory Animal Resources, Di [the main source of water in the reserve), availability of food and cover, and the ex Figure 3. The use of a wide range of species vision of Biological Sciences, Assem tent of illegal hunting. during teaching is important. bly of Life Sciences, Washington, DC. An analysis of questionnaires distributed to various people living in villages McCoullough, L.B. and Morris, J.P. Ill, ed. around the reserve revealed that these people depend heavily on bushmeat for their (1978) Implications of His tory and animal protein requirements. They also use other wildlife products to meet their eco Ethics to Medicine, Centennial Aca nomic, social, and cultural needs. It is recommended that adequate protection should be demic Assembly, Texas A & M Uni accorded to the game reserve for at least 5 years. After that time, the area could be versity, College Station, TX. opened up to tourism, and controlled hunting could be permitted in the buffer zone Morris, R.K. and Fox, M.W. (1978) On the around the reserve. fifth day, In: Animal Rights and Human Ethics, Acropolis Books, Ltd., Zusammenfassung Washington, DC. Schwabe, C.W. (1978) Cattle, Priests, and In dieser Studie wurden drei indirekte Anzeichen (Yorkommnis von Losung, Ti Progress in Medicine, vol. 4, The Wes erspuren und Wechsel) dafi.ir verwendet, um die Zahl und Verbreitung von grossen ley W. Spink Lectures on Compar Saugetieren im Oberen Ogun Wildreservat, welches in einer fUr S[i'd-Guinea charak ative Medicine, University of Min teristischen Savannen-Zone liegt, abzuschatzen. nesota Press, Minneapolis, MN. Dreizehn Tierarten wurden festgestellt, unter ihnen Kamas, ri:itlichgraue Antilo Visscher, M. B. (1967) Medical research pen, Wasserbi:icke, etc. Die Verbreitung der grossen Saugetiere scheint durch fol and ethics, J Am Vet Med Assoc gende Faktoren bestimmt: Zuganglichkeit zum Ogun Fluss (der bedeutendste Was 199:9. serlauf im Reservat), Vorhandensein von Nahrung und Deckung und das Ausmass il Figure 4. Students giving preoperative care to their legaler Jagd. teaching dog. Students must be responsible for both Eine Analyse der Fragebi:igen, die an die Einwohner verschiedener Di:irfer in der pre- and postoperative care of animals. Umgebung des Reservats verteilt wurden, vermittelte die Information, dass diese Menschen hauptsachlich von Fleisch aus dem Busch fur ihren Tierprotein-Bedarf ab hangen. Sie verwenden auch andere Tierprodukte, um ihre wirtschaftlichen, sozialen

T.A. Afolayan and S.O. Salami are at the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Forestry Build ing, University of Jbadan, lbandan, Nigeria. K.R.N. Milligan is at the International Livestock Centre for Afri ca, Kaduna, Nigeria. 33 32 /NT I STUD ANIM PROB 4(1) 1983 /NT I STUD ANIM PROB 4(1) 1983 ! '

T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article

und kulturellen BedUrfnisse zu decken. Es wird empfohlen, dem Wildtierreservat fUr N mindestens fUnf Jahre ausreichend Schutz zu gewahren. Nach dieser Periode konnte diese Gegend wieder dem Tourism us freigegeben und eine kontroll ierte J agd in der Pufferzone urn das Reservat gestattet werden. ~,, t \ \ Introduction this area as a source of dietary protein, --==: Streams and it also plays a major role in traditional \ There is a paucity of information on \ medicine. =Roads the abundance and distribution of large \ The game reserve has suffered from \ --- Foot path mammals in Nigerian wildlife reserves indiscriminate hunting for a long time (i.e., the National Park and other game ® Rock & Hills most of the more valuable species are reserves), and much of the data that are G Ghost Village approaching extinction and are hard to available were obtained mainly from find. In summary, then, the main objec mere guesses made by casual observers tives of this study were to provide relia and visitors. Apart from Kainji Lake Na ble information on the abundance and tional Park, where some careful research distribution of large mammals in the re work has been carried out, the available serve and to investigate the impact of il information for other reserves is inade legal hunting by the local communities quate, unreliable, and insufficiently sci on the wildlife populations in the area. It entific for efficient management of a is hoped that this information will be game reserve. Even in Kainji Lake Nation useful in the formulation of a long-term al Park, where some general population management plan for the game reserve. studies have been carried out (Child, 1974; Pel ink, 1974; Milligan, 1979), no study has Study Area ru hill been conducted on the individual large Upper Ogun Game Reserve (Fig. 1) mammal species. Similarly, work in the with a total area of 1,100 sq km, is situat Yankari Game Reserve in the northeastern ed in the northwestern region of Oyo area of Nigeria performed by Sykes (pers. state, between latitudes 3 V2 and 4 V2 ° E comm.) and Geerling ( 1973) is not suffi and longitudes BVl and 9°N. The mean ciently comprehensive for developing a re annual rainfall in the reserve is about liable management plan for that reserve. 1,250 mm with a 5-month dry season (Nov Generally, very little is known about ember to March). The mean minimum and the wildlife populations of the 60 Nigeri maximum daily temperatures are about an wildlife reserves, which include the 0 20 and 34°(, respectively. The terrain is I Upper Ogun Game Reserve, the most im gently sloping, with some rocky hills and portant game reserve in the Oyo state of inselbergs located on the southeastern FIGURE 1 Physical features of Upper Ogun Game Reserve Nigeria. We therefore decided to investi section, along the boundary of the re gate the abundance and distribution of serve. animal populations in this reserve. A sec The main drainage system in the re ond reason for our selection of the Up serve is the River Ogun. It runs from per Ogun was its importance to the peo north to south and flows through the The reserve is situated at the north 1. Dense woodland and forest outliers ple living in the villages that surround whole length of the reserve. In addition, ern boundary of the forest-savanna mo 2. Mixed open savanna woodland; the reserve. Bushmeat (i.e., the flesh of several other streams can be found east saic. It lies in typical Southern Guinea Terminalia macroptera savanna wild animals) from this game reserve of the River Ogun. The soils are derived savanna woodland, with fairly dense wood 3. Ironstone and outcrop vegetation and from the surrounding forest reserves from undifferentiated basement complex land and forest outliers found in the south 4. Riparian grassland and fringing contributes immensely to the socioeco materials. These soils are generally sandy ern region (Geerling, 1973). In his analysis woodland, occupying the flood plains nomic and cultural life of the people. and are classified as feruginous tropical of vegetation, Geerling was able to identify and the areas along the River Ogun, There is a high demand for bushmeat in soi Is on crystal! ine acid rocks. the following principal vegetation types: respectively.

34 /NT I STUD ANIM PROB 4{1) 1983 /NT I STUD ANIM PROB 4{1) 1983 35 ! '

T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article

34 /NT I STUD ANIM PROB 4{1) 1983 /NT I STUD ANIM PROB 4{1) 1983 35 T.A. Afolayan-LargeMammals in Upper Ogun Original Article TABLE 1. Density of Animals (Number/Square Kilometer) in the Upper Ogun Game Reserve ·

Pellet Average Confidence Count Group Trail Footprint Density limits* Method pie is di, and the estimated total number of droppings accumulated Aor the species, It was impossible to estimate the for the whole study area, D may be given Kob 25.08 11.87 18.04 1833 ±6.60 animal populations in the study area by by: direct methods because of poor visibili (1) Cane rat 337 1.60 1.77 2.24 ±0.97 ty in the dense woodlands. We therefore B.=I Nd·I resorted to indirect sampling techniques, Where N = Area of the study area Hare 131 0.64 0.80 0.91 ±034 which involved counting fecal droppings, Area of plot animal tracks, and footprints. Similar in The population of each species Pi direct sampling methods have been used Duicker 1.93 2.03 3.11 235 ±0.65 may be estimated using the formula by Wing and Buss (1970) in Uganda and by Afolayan (1975) in the Kilimanjaro Pi= Di (2) ------'----- Aardvark 1.00 0.80 0.93 0.91 ±0.10 forest reserve in Tanzania to estimate R X T· elephant populations. where Di is equal its estimate as ~o Bi Bushbuck 4.11 5.61 8.19 5.97 ±2.06 The most significant limitation in above, Ri is the defecation rate per day the use of these sorts of population in of species i, and Ti is the number of days dices is that they can only serve to in that elapsed between the first and second Hartebeest 3.01 2.81 4.63 3.48 ±0.99 dicate population trends over time and observations. space and do not necessarily represent In the second part of the study, ques Roan antelope 1.96 2.08 3.55 2.53 ±0.88 true head counts for the particular area tionnaires were administered to deter under investigation. However, these meth mine the frequency of hunting activities, Buffalo 0.19 0.44 0.80 0.47 ±030 ods were used in this study because they the value of the various wildlife species provided the only available means of in terms of meat and medicinal uses, obtaining information on animal activi and the extent of protection afforded to Crocodile O.D4 0.03 0.04 0.03 ±0.005 ties and abundance in the study area. the animals. A total of 150 of these ques Only the animal species shown in Table tionnaires were distributed to hunters, Spotted hyena 0.07 0.07 0.11 0.08 ±0.02 1 were included in this study. market women, community leaders, and The field study was carried out in elders who resided in villages around the Elephant 0 0.03 0.05 0.026 ±0.02 the dry season of 1979. Ten transects game reserve. The villages include Aha, were randomly selected, with a 100 X 20m Shepeteri, Agunrege, Ago-Amodu, and plot marked off along each transect In Ago-Omu. Red River hog 0.01 0.01 0,01 0,01 ±0.00 dices of animal activities such as fecal Market prices for various kinds of droppings, trails, and tracks were observ bushmeat, trophies, and skins and bones Total 42.08 28.01 42.03 37.4 ±8.10 ed on each of the plots. Information on were obtained from a sample of market types of vegetation and weather condi women and hunters. Experienced hunt *Confidence limits were calculated at the 5 perce[Jt probability level. tions at the time of observation were ers, patrolmen, elders, and community also recorded. After the droppings were leaders were interviewed on the medici counted for the first time, they were nal uses of wildlife. Data on the number prints. High counts for pellet groups, foot duicker. High pellet counts were record marked with wooden pegs and left for of offenses and arrests, and information prints, and trails were recorded for kob, ed for these species, while low counts observation on a second occasion, to de on compoundings and fines, was collected cane rat, bushbuck, duicker, and hare in were noted for buffalo, elephant, and termine the nature and speed of decom from the Game Management Headquar the riparian savanna grassland, while Red River hog. position over time. ters of Oyo state. low counts were recorded for hartebeest Seven animal species were identified Mathematical formulations were con and roan antelope. (The nomenclature in the open savanna woodland. Here, structed for estimating populations from Results for the animals discussed follows that of there was a decrease in pellet, footprint, these data: Let di be the number of drop Dorst and Dandelot, 1970.) and trail counts for kob, cane rat, and pings accumulated in each plot for each Table 1 lists the 13 species of large In the mixed-savanna woodland, the hare but a rise in the counts for bushbuck. species in the interval between the first mammals studied in the reserve and the following species were identified: kob, In the dense woodland, a total of and second observations (after decom indices of their abundance, calculated aardvark, bushbuck, hartebeest, and seven species was observed. Of these, position). The mean for the whole sam- from counts of droppings, tracks, and foot- /NT I STUD ANIM PROB 4(1) 1983 37 36 INTI STUD ANIM PROB 4(1} 1983 T.A. Afolayan-LargeMammals in Upper Ogun Original Article TABLE 1. Density of Animals (Number/Square Kilometer) in the Upper Ogun Game Reserve ·

Pellet Average Confidence Count Group Trail Footprint Density limits* Method pie is di, and the estimated total number of droppings accumulated Aor the species, It was impossible to estimate the for the whole study area, D may be given Kob 25.08 11.87 18.04 1833 ±6.60 animal populations in the study area by by: direct methods because of poor visibili (1) Cane rat 337 1.60 1.77 2.24 ±0.97 ty in the dense woodlands. We therefore B.=I Nd·I resorted to indirect sampling techniques, Where N = Area of the study area Hare 131 0.64 0.80 0.91 ±034 which involved counting fecal droppings, Area of plot animal tracks, and footprints. Similar in The population of each species Pi direct sampling methods have been used Duicker 1.93 2.03 3.11 235 ±0.65 may be estimated using the formula by Wing and Buss (1970) in Uganda and by Afolayan (1975) in the Kilimanjaro Pi= Di (2) ------'----- Aardvark 1.00 0.80 0.93 0.91 ±0.10 forest reserve in Tanzania to estimate R X T· elephant populations. where Di is equal its estimate as ~o Bi Bushbuck 4.11 5.61 8.19 5.97 ±2.06 The most significant limitation in above, Ri is the defecation rate per day the use of these sorts of population in of species i, and Ti is the number of days dices is that they can only serve to in that elapsed between the first and second Hartebeest 3.01 2.81 4.63 3.48 ±0.99 dicate population trends over time and observations. space and do not necessarily represent In the second part of the study, ques Roan antelope 1.96 2.08 3.55 2.53 ±0.88 true head counts for the particular area tionnaires were administered to deter under investigation. However, these meth mine the frequency of hunting activities, Buffalo 0.19 0.44 0.80 0.47 ±030 ods were used in this study because they the value of the various wildlife species provided the only available means of in terms of meat and medicinal uses, obtaining information on animal activi and the extent of protection afforded to Crocodile O.D4 0.03 0.04 0.03 ±0.005 ties and abundance in the study area. the animals. A total of 150 of these ques Only the animal species shown in Table tionnaires were distributed to hunters, Spotted hyena 0.07 0.07 0.11 0.08 ±0.02 1 were included in this study. market women, community leaders, and The field study was carried out in elders who resided in villages around the Elephant 0 0.03 0.05 0.026 ±0.02 the dry season of 1979. Ten transects game reserve. The villages include Aha, were randomly selected, with a 100 X 20m Shepeteri, Agunrege, Ago-Amodu, and plot marked off along each transect In Ago-Omu. Red River hog 0.01 0.01 0,01 0,01 ±0.00 dices of animal activities such as fecal Market prices for various kinds of droppings, trails, and tracks were observ bushmeat, trophies, and skins and bones Total 42.08 28.01 42.03 37.4 ±8.10 ed on each of the plots. Information on were obtained from a sample of market types of vegetation and weather condi women and hunters. Experienced hunt *Confidence limits were calculated at the 5 perce[Jt probability level. tions at the time of observation were ers, patrolmen, elders, and community also recorded. After the droppings were leaders were interviewed on the medici counted for the first time, they were nal uses of wildlife. Data on the number prints. High counts for pellet groups, foot duicker. High pellet counts were record marked with wooden pegs and left for of offenses and arrests, and information prints, and trails were recorded for kob, ed for these species, while low counts observation on a second occasion, to de on compoundings and fines, was collected cane rat, bushbuck, duicker, and hare in were noted for buffalo, elephant, and termine the nature and speed of decom from the Game Management Headquar the riparian savanna grassland, while Red River hog. position over time. ters of Oyo state. low counts were recorded for hartebeest Seven animal species were identified Mathematical formulations were con and roan antelope. (The nomenclature in the open savanna woodland. Here, structed for estimating populations from Results for the animals discussed follows that of there was a decrease in pellet, footprint, these data: Let di be the number of drop Dorst and Dandelot, 1970.) and trail counts for kob, cane rat, and pings accumulated in each plot for each Table 1 lists the 13 species of large In the mixed-savanna woodland, the hare but a rise in the counts for bushbuck. species in the interval between the first mammals studied in the reserve and the following species were identified: kob, In the dense woodland, a total of and second observations (after decom indices of their abundance, calculated aardvark, bushbuck, hartebeest, and seven species was observed. Of these, position). The mean for the whole sam- from counts of droppings, tracks, and foot- /NT I STUD ANIM PROB 4(1) 1983 37 36 INTI STUD ANIM PROB 4(1} 1983 T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article

there were high counts for hartebeest, and distribution of pellets, trails, and ates, primates, hyrax, rodents, birds, and hunters and the fines paid from 1967 to roan antelope, duicker, buffalo, and bush footprints. Counts for pellets, trails, and reptiles. About 80 percent of the rural 1978 are presented. This information buck. Nothing was recorded for hare, footprints were higher along the river population depends on bushmeat, and was obtained from the Came Manage cane rat, and crocodile, but the first sign course; counts decreased gradually as approximately 40 percent take up hunt ment Headquarters in Oyo. A total of of a spotted hyena was recorded in this the distance from the river increased. ing as a profession. About 65 percent of 151 arrests were made in 12 years; the vegetation zone. Variations in the distribution of animal the hunters interviewed stated that kob total amount of fines collected was Considering the entire study area, species also appear among the different is the most abundant animal species in 2,610.39 Naira. Most of the arrests were and the 13 animal species studied, kob vegetation zones. For example, buffalo, the game reserve and that bushbuck, harte made between December and May, but had the highest pellet, footprint, and trail hartebeest, and roan antelope were more beest, roan antelope, and duicker also at least 1 person was arrested in every counts, except in the dense savanna wood frequent in the dense savanna woodland occur in great numbers. month. land. The density of kob populations was than in the other vegetation zones, while Among the Fulani, Hausa, and Bo also highest (25.08/sq km, according to kobs were commonly seen in the riparian roro hunters, the weapons used for hunt Discussion the pellet count index), followed by bush grassland and in the areas around the ing range from bows and arrows to dane This study has revealed the impor buck (5.97/sq km). The average density River Ogun. guns. Also, most of the local hunters use tance of the River Ogun in determining of all animals in the reserve, calculated traps and ropes. About 90 percent of the the abundance and distribution of some from the indices used, is 37.4/sq km. Utilization of Wildlife hunters interviewed affirmed that they ungulates and reptiles in the Upper Ogun The analyses of the questionnaires were aware that hunting in the reserve is Distribution of animals Came Reserve. The animals that are more showed that wildlife is a very important illegal but claimed that they hunted on closely associated with the river during part of the life of the local people, in ly in the area outside the reserve. The Figure 2 shows the effect of the River the dry season are kob, bushbuck, cane migrant hunters set up camps and are Ogun on the distribution of large mam traditional medicine and witchcraft, and rat, duicker, and crocodile. Other spe able to remain in the reserve for as long mals in the game reserve. The distance as a source of protein. A wide variety of cies such as hartebeest and roan ante as 3 weeks at a time. Hunting is carried from the river is presented on X axis, wild animals are eaten by the local com lope were encountered at some distance munities, including all of the wild ungul- out principally during the dry season, while the Y axis shows the abundance from the riverine areas. These latter when the animals are easier to spot. The species are often referred to as typical dressed carcass is often chopped up into upland savanna animals (Afolayan and 210 small pieces, hard-roasted, and then Ajayi, 1980; Milligan, 1979). Their choice 200 packed into sacks. of habitat does not mean that these 190 About 40 percent of the hunters in ui animals do not require water-they do "E I S.O terviewed stated that they would prefer visit watersides at least once daily, but ·~ 170 to send their children to school instead 160 of training them to become future hunt then return to the upland savanna areas. 0 -Pellet 0 150 ers. On the other hand, about 50 percent Studies carried out on kobs in Nige +--+ Foot print all 140 held the view that hunting represents an ria (Child, 1974; Pelinck, 1974; Milligan, 130 )t-----j( Trail ·a important tradition that ought to be 1979) and elsewhere in East Africa have 120 z passed down to future generations. The shown that the animal is fairly sedenta 110 other 10 percent could not state catego ry. Normally, it does not travel farther -..!!! 100 a; than 5 km from a source of water. a. 90 rically categorically whether it was pre -0 ao ferable to train children to hunt or toed Figure 2 also shows the effect of the c 70 ucate them for other kinds of work. River Ogun on the distribution of the ri :8 60 :::J Table 2 lists the 21 species of animals parian species mentioned above (i.e., ..c E 50 that were for sale in various markets kob and allied species). High counts of cUl 40 around the reserve at the time of our pellets, footprints, and trails of these 30 study, including Aha, Ago-Amodu, She species are found along the River Ogun, 20 peteri, lseyin, Agunrege, Ago-Omu, and but the counts decrease rapidly as one 10 Shaki. The average market price is given moves away from the river. A high rela 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100110120130 140 ISO 160170 ISO 190 200210 220 230240250260270280290300 for each species. Note that these prices tive population density was recorded for Quadrat distance from River Ogun ( m ). are not fixed: they fluctuate with time kob and the allied species that are more and region. water-dependent, while lower densities FIGURE 2 Effect of River Ogun on the distribution of large mammals in Upper Ogun Game Reserve In Table 3, the number of arrests of were noted for hartebeest and roan ante- 38 /NT 1 STUD ANIM PROB 4(1) 1983 /NT 1 STUD ANIM PROB 4(1] 1983 39 T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article

T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article

0 co LI) LI) LI) LI) <:!'> , 0 N ,.,..,0 N " LI) lope, which are less dependent on water. Game Reserve in Tanzania and by Field

The importance of water, food, and (1968), who also worked in East Africa. u Ql 0 0 0 0 0 cover in the distribution of ungulates Field observed that ungulates require Q has been shown by Afolayan (1976), who water for drinking, as well as for wallow studied these species at the Mkomazi ing during hot weather. Geerling and > z0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

1 ....u TABLE 2. Approximate Market Prices of Bushmeat, Trophies, and Skins of 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Some Large African Mammals

c. Ql 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Price "' Animal species Part of Animal Involved (in Naira)

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bushbuck Dressed carcass 50-90 Elephant Dressed carcass 500-800 Tusk 400-600 .a 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Buffalo Dressed carcass 300 Skin 80 .. al Cl. Cl. c Lion Dresed carcass 100 ::J 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Skin 80 ~ ..cal Leopard Dressed carcass 110 ..... Skin 100 c Qj'

Red River hog Dressed carcass 20 0 0 0 0 0 2 "'0 Skin 10 >- .. Q Bush pig Dressed carcass al 120 Cl. c: "C c. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ::: Cane rat Dressed carcass 2 al <( .8 c 0 >- Bush fowl Dressed carcass 5 1.1. 0 "C c: Duicker Dressed carcass 20-30 c 0 0 co 0 ... !II lJ') Cane rat Dressed carcass 10-15 "C al 't;;· Python Dressed carcass 100 al .c 0 Skin 60 .. Ql 0 0 0 0 0 < u.. Kob Dressed carcass 70 til ...... c: Skin 8 al C!J • .... c EN c .. 0 0 0 0 0 Warthog Dressed carcass 20 = "',...C!JCJ)C!'> " :c c:-o Waterbuck Dressed carcass 150 .... "' c: 0 ~ C!J ,...-"' Roan Antelope Dressed carcass 150 al.. E ~ Skin 20 .c 0 co co "',... E lJ c: Hartebeest Dressed carcass 150 z= Oribi Dressed carcass 10 ....!II 0 Spotted hyena Dressed carcass 60 1- Skin 40 ..... t"'i 0 co <( 1- <:!'> <:!'> Aardvark Dressed carcass 40 1.1.1 " " 0 -I 1- Dwarf mongoose Dressed carcass 3 = l-< Data from interviews with market women in Ago Omu, Shepeteri, Agungere, Ago Amodu and Aha villages. INT 1 STUD ANIM PROB 4(1) 1983 40 /NT 1 STUD ANIM PROB 4(1) 1983 I'

T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article

0 co LI) LI) LI) LI) <:!'> , 0 N ,.,..,0 N " LI) lope, which are less dependent on water. Game Reserve in Tanzania and by Field

1 ....u TABLE 2. Approximate Market Prices of Bushmeat, Trophies, and Skins of 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Some Large African Mammals

c. Ql 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Price "' Animal species Part of Animal Involved (in Naira)

Bokdam (1973) classified the large-mam animal protein consumed by the people ditions might be to increase the number References mal species they identified in Comoe around the Upper Ogun Game Reserve. of patrolmen in the area. Those patrol Afolayan, T.A. (1975) Effects of elephant National Park, Ivory Coast, into three They also depend upon wildlife trophies men who work only on a daily basis activities on forest plantations in Kili categories on the basis of the animals' for traditional medicine and for invok should be absorbed into the permanent manjaro Forest Game Reserve in Tan water requirements. Kob, waterbuck, ing or appeasing the practices of witch service to ensure their effective cooper zania. 01KOS 26(3):405-410. and red-flanked duicker were classified craft. Studies conducted by Ajayi (1971, ation and participation. Also, more patrol Afolayan, T.A. (1976) Distribution and rel as species that reside near water. This 1978) and Asibey (197 4) revealed that wild posts and stations sho!Jid be built. Every ative abundance of hartebeest in four was also found to be true for the kob life plays a significant role in the nutri effort should be made to encourage the rangelands. Mammalia 40(2):245-256. and the other allied species that we stud tion, dress, religion, and employment of participation of the local communities Afol ayan, T.A. and Ajayi, S.S. (1980) The ied in the Upper Ogun Game Reserve. El the rural communities of the west Afri in every step taken by the state govern influence of seasonality on the distri ephant and buffalo were classified as can coast. In the study area, the hunters ment to conserve wildlife in the area. bution of large mammals in the Yan species that were partial to water and and other traders in bushmeat realize a The revenue realized from the manage kari Game Reserve, Nigeria. Afr j Ecol shade but that were also wide ranging. high level of revenue from their illegal ment of the reserve should be used to 78:87-96. The third category included those spe sales. They therefore strive to maintain a develop the local communities, in order Ajayi, S.S. (1971) Wildlife as a source of cies that do not have a daily need for flourishing trade in animals, irrespective to ensure their confidence and coopera protein in Nigeria: some priorities for water. Species in this category included of the law and the counter-efforts made tion, as well as the success of the whole development. Niger Field 36(3):115-127. hartebeest, roan antelope, warthog, ori by game managers. The number of arrests program. We also suggest that the reserve Ajayi, S.S. (1978) The utilization of tropi bi, and grey duicker. made, and the cash received in fines real not be opened to tourism until 5 years cal forest wildlife: state of knowledge The different vegetation zones also ized from these arrests, are negligible after an adequate level of protection and research priorities. Paper present showed variations in the abundance and when compared with the number of ani has been achieved and maintained. ed at the Eighth World Forestry Con distribution of large mammals. This finding mals that are being killed illegally every This study has shown that wildlife gress, Jakarta, 1978. may be attributed in part to differences in day, especially during the hunting season. meat and trophies make a significant Asibey, E.O.A. (1974) Wildlife as a source plant species composition among the Therefore, it must be particularly contribution to the socioeconomic and of protein in Africa south of the Saha the several zones. For example, kob, emphasized that illegal hunting greatly cultural life of the people in the area. ra. Bioi Conserv 6(1):32-39. cane rat, and hare were more abundant affects the abundance and distribution We therefore recommend that hunting Child, G.S. (1974) An ecological survey of in the riparian grassland than in the of the animals in the study area, and not be banned completely in the region. Borgu Game Reserve, FAO/UN, Rome, other vegetation zones. This fact dem constitutes an important factor in deter Instead, a buffer zone should be created Technical Report No.4, FI:SF/NIR 24. onstrates that water is not the only fac" mining population levels, in addition to around the reserve where controlled hunt Dorst,). and Dandelot, P. (1970) A Field tor that determines the distribution of the other crucial factors, water, food, ing can take place, while the reserve Guide to the Larger Mammals of Africa. large mammals; the relative availability and cover. itself serves as a breeding and growing Collins, London. of perennial grasses for feeding is cru ground for the various wildlife species. Field, C. (1968) The Food Habits of Some cial as well. The availability of food (es Conclusions and Recommendations Wild Ungulates in Uganda, Ph.D. thesis. pecially browse species) and cover in In this study, we found that the Up University of Cambridge, Cambridge, the dense savanna woodland is responsi Acknowledgments per Ogun Game Reserve, which is located U.K. ble for the relatively high density of roan in a typical Southern Guinea savanna of We wish to express our profound Geerling, C. (1973) Vegetation map of Up antelope, hartebeest, bushbuck, and the West Africa, still contains high densities gratitude to the Chief Conservator of For~ per Ogun Game Reserve, FAO Work somewhat lower numbers of duickers in of kob, bushbuck, hartebeest, and roan ests for Oyo State and O.F. Faleye, Assis ing Document. FAO Forestry Depart this area. This finding supports the con antelope. The important factors that were tant Chief Conservator of Forests, Forestry ment, Rome. clusion of Odum (1971) that distribution identified as affecting the abundance Division, Secretariat, lbadan, for giving Geerling, C. and Bokdam, ). (1973) Fauna of large mammals is affected by availa and distribution of large mammals in the us permission and the necessary assis of the Comoe National Park, Ivory bility of food and cover. Napierbax and reserve are: source of perennial water, tance to carry out our field work in the Coast. Bioi Conserv 5(4):251-257. Sheldrick (1963) have also demonstrated food (browse and grass species), cover, Upper Ogun Game Reserve. Milligan, K.R.N. (1979) An Ecological Basis the importance of browse plants in the dis and illegal hunting. We are also highly indebted to Pro for the Management of.Lake Kainji Na tribution and abundance of herbivores. Future prospects for tourism, and fessor S.S. Ajayi, head of the Department tional Park, Nigeria, Ph.D. Thesis. Uni Utilization of Wildlife in the consequent benefits to management, of Wildlife and Fisheries Management, versity of I bad an, Nigeria. Upper Ogun Area seem favorable if the present methods University of lbadan, for providing us Napier-Sax, P. and Sheldrick, D.L.W. (1963) It became clear from our study that of protection can be improved upon. with the moral and financial support for Some preliminary observations on the bushmeat comprises the bulk of the One means of ameliorating present con- producing this manuscript. food of elephants in the Tsavo Royal 42 JNT 1 STUD ANIM PROB 4(1) 1983 /NT 1 STUD ANJM PROB 4(1) 1983 43 T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article

T.A. Afolayan-Large Mammals in Upper Ogun Original Article B.D. Barnett & R.L. Rudd-Feral Dogs of Galapagos Original Article

National Park (East) of Kenya. E Afr Pellink, E. (1974) Final Report to Nigerian wie auch Raubtiere. Wahrend andere eingeflihrte Saugetiere (hauptsachlich wilde Wild/}. Government. Kainji Lake Research In Rinder und Schweine) als Beute gedient haben, haben klirzlich ernsthafte Verwlis Odum, E. (1971) Fundamentals of Ecolo stitute, New Bussa, Nigeria. tungen der einzigartigen endemischen Galapagos-Fauna stattgefunden. Die haupt gy, 3rd ed. W.B. Saunders, London. Wing, D. and Buss, 1.0. (1970) Elephant sachlichen Angriffe richteten sich gegen die Land- und Marine-Iguanas, Schildkroten and Forests, Wildlife Monograph No. 19. und Seevogel, die in Kolonien nisten. Um diesem Problem zu begegnen, lauft seit dem J ahr 1979 ein koordiniertes Vernichtungs- und Studien-Programm in Bezug auf aile Hundepopulationen, und ein Vernichtungs-programm auf der Isla lsabela, begon nen in 1981, dauert noch an mit sichtlichem Erfolg. Die Vernichtungskampagne be dient sich hauptsachlich sorgfaltig plazierter Fleischkoder, die mit dem Compount Feral Dogs of the Galapagos Islands: 1080 (Sodium-Monofluoroazetat) vergiftet sind. Untersuchungen am Platz betreffend Verbreitung, Demographie, Verhaltensweisen und Uebertragung von Krankheitsvek Impact and Control toren begannen auf der Isla lsabela in 1981. Besonders bemerkenswert ist das haufige Auftreten von filariformen Herzwurm in einigen Saugetierarten inklusive Menschen. Hunde sind wichtige Reservoirs dieses Parasiten. lm folgenden sind die Probleme beschrieben, die durch die Hunde hervorgerufen werden, und Mutmas Bruce D. Barnett and Robert L. Rudd sungen angestellt Uber die Art einer selektiven RUckkehr zum Urzustand.

Organisms introduced onto insular ecosystems, after they have become established, Introduction tance from the mainland increases, and on frequently increase to destructive numbers. Several species of mammals introduced islands that do not normally support large onto the Galapagos Islands illustrate this ecological axiom. For example, domestic The introduction of organisms from predators, natural selection has not dogs intentionally introduced now exist as three major types: domestic, free--ranging other areas can easily upset the delicate favored the emergence of avoidance be or pariah, and feral. Problems derived from their presence are most apparent on the is balance of natural island communities, havior in the endemic fauna. lands of Santa Cruz and lsabela. Feral and pariah dogs are both scavengers and predators. especially when such organisms are not A dangerous illustration of these While other introduced mammals (chiefly feral cattle and pigs) have served as prey, in faced with the natural checks to their in concepts presently exists in the Galapa recent years severe depredations on the unique endemic Ga/apagan fauna have been crease that are normally found in the caused by the dogs. The chief targets have included land and marine iguanas, tor home environment. Their rapid and suc gos Archipelago, where feral dogs serious ly threaten populations of endemic fauna toises, and colonially nesting marine birds. To counter this problem, a coordinated cessful establishment in such circum on the islands of Santa Cruz and lsabela eradication and study program on all dog populations has been underway since 1979, stances is likely, and is normally follow (Fig. 1 ). Research on feral and domestic and an eradication program on Isla lsabela, begun in 1981, continues with marked ed by an increase in their numbers at the dog populations on lsabela, currently success. Control rests primarily on carefully placed flesh baits poisoned with Com expense of native flora and fauna. In being conducted in conjunction with the pound 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate]. Field studies on distribution, demography, contrast, island organisms, which have Charles Darwin Research Station and behavior, and disease transmission also began on Isla lsabela in 1981. Particularly been isolated for a long period of time the Galapagos National Park Service, notable is the high incidence of filarial heartworm in several species of mammals, in from more complex continental ecosys should aid in understanding the establish cluding the local human residents. Dogs are important reservoirs of this parasite. tems, have become specialized to a sim ment and impact of these kinds of intro Descriptions of the problems created by the dogs and speculations on the nature of plified island environment and are often duced predators. Studies of the ecology selective return to the wild state are presented. incapable of withstanding competition and population biology of the dogs can with, or predation by, introduced species. provide a basis for the development of Zusammenfassung At the same time, other critical factors effective methods for their long-term come into play. MacArthur and Wilson Lebewesen, die in insulare Oekosysteme eingefUhrt werden, vermehren sich control on these islands and in other (1967) pointed out that because a given nach ihrer Etablierung oft in einem zerstorenden Ausmass. Einige der Saugetierarten, J areas where similar problems exist. land area can support far fewer numbers die auf den Galapagos lnseln eingeflihrt wurden, illustrieren dieses okologische Ax f of predators than prey, predators will be iom. So existieren zum Beispiel Hunde, die mit Absicht eingeflihrt wurden, heute in History relatively rare, even on large islands; drei Hauptgruppen: als Haustiere, als streunende Tiere oder Parias, und als wilde smaller islands may maintain a carrying The introduction of domestic dogs Tiere. Probleme, die sich aus deren Gegenwart ergeben, zeigen sich deutlich auf den capacity too low to support any perma to the Galapagos followed soon after lnseln Santa Cruz und lsabela. Wilde und streunende Hunde sind sowohl Aasfresser nent predator population. Also, the like the original colonization of the Archi Bruce D. Barnett is at the Charles Darwin Research Station, Isla Santa Cruz, Galapagos, Ecuador and Dr. lihood of dispersal of large, terrestrial pelago. In 1832, Jose Villamil, a native Rudd is a professor in the Department of Zoology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616. predators to islands decreases as the dis of Louisiana, was granted permission by

44 /NT 1 STUD ANIM PROB 4(1) 1983 INT 1 STUD ANIM PROB 4(1] 1983 45