Evaluation of Wildlife Hunting and Species of Animals Marketed as Bushmeat in Dakka Bali Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study evaluated wildlife hunting and species of animals marketed as bushmeat in Dakka Bali Local Government Area in Taraba State, Nigeria. Fifty (50) questionnaires were used to investigate gender distribution, age, household size, level of education, income generated per month, year round supply of bushmeat in the market. The study revealed that 60% of bushmeat marketers were male, and 30% of them were between 31 – 40 years. Study also revealed that 50% of the bushmeat marketers were married and majority of them have 1 – 5 household size which represent 42%. The study showed that 42% of the bushmeat marketers generated N10,000 – 14,000 monthly. Recommendations include Government should discourage licensed hunters from using gin and snare traps since they do not allow selectivity of sex, age of the animal to be killed.  Preservatives/smoking methods should also be encouraged. Individuals should be trained and mobilized on game ranching and domestication instead of indiscriminate killing and relying only on wild animals as bushmeat.

Keyword: Evaluation, wildlife hunting, species, marketed as bushmeat.