A survey of bush meat hunting and trading in Taraba State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined Bush Meat Hunting and Trading in Taraba State using structured open and close questionnaires, which were  administered to one hundred and twenty (120) respondents and survey of bush meat processing centres were deployed to collect data  for this study. Collection of data spanned for three months (November 2022 to January 2023). The result on age group showed that most  of the respondent were between the age group of 31-45 (n=54, 45%), while none was at the age of 60 and above. The results of marital  status of the respondents showed that 68 respondents (58%) were married and 3 respondents (2 %) were widowed. The results of  educational level of the respondents indicated that most were secondary leavers (n=56, 47%) and (n=12, 10 %) had no formal education.  The family size of respondents shows that most of the respondents had a family size with more than 11 members (n= 60, 52%) and the  least being the family size of 1-5 (n = 7, 3%). The occupations of respondents indicate that most were hunters (n=76, 63%), followed by farmers (n=32, 26 %) while other occupations such as traders and primary school teachers (n = 12, 10%) were among those mentioned.  The results on bushmeat consumption shows that almost all the people in the study areas consume bushmeat (Gashaka 100%, Bali 100%  and Kurmi 100%). The results on general meat sources in relation to bushmeat showed that the most preferred meat type is bush meat  (67%). The results on bushmeat preference among the varieties of bushmeat indicated that grasscutter is the most preferred bush meat  on the average (51%).The study shows that hunters earned the sum of #36,000 - #40,000 per month on the average. Stiffer laws and policies should be created and implemented to put off illegal hunters. Government should grant loans to poultry and fish farmers to  increase their farms since they serve as alternative sources of meat and income. Poverty alleviation programmes should extend to rural  areas for wealth creation. The findings of this study showed that wild animals hunting for bushmeat is still common in Taraba State. The  formulation of policies and laws with stiffer penalties on wild animal hunting for bushmeat will go a long way to restore high populations  in protected areas of the state for future generations.