Assessment of birds trade in urban Kano

Abstract

The bird trade puts pressure on both wild and domesticated populations, and several species
are at risk of extinction due to this activity. The aim of this work was to find out the extent of
the bird trade in urban Kano, Nigeria. A total of six markets were surveyed. The data was
obtained through interviews and observations. The conservation statuses of the traded birds
were assessed using the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
and the Nigeria Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act, 2016. A total of 101 birds belonging to 18 species were found to be under trade in various forms in
the places surveyed, with Columba species (20 (19.8 %)) being the most encountered birds,
while the least encountered were Balearica pavanina (1 (1.0 %)), Bubulcus ibis (1 (1.0 %)),
Pavo muticus (1 (1.0 %)), and Crithagra mozambica (1 (1.0 %)). Most of the bird species are
traded as pets, and the traders source them from different places within and outside the
country, with the majority (56.8 %) of the traders entering the trade through family
inheritance. Although most of the birds encountered belong to the least concern category of
the IUCN, legally protected species are openly displayed in the places surveyed. To give
endangered birds a future and to identify species in urgent need of conservation interventions,
the authorities concerned should consider regular market monitoring and continuous bird
surveys.