White-Throated Monkey (WTM) populations like that of most other primate species are faced with threats in all parts their range. This is majorly due to various anthropogenic activities among others. Therefore the need to sustain conservation actions. Despite recent efforts at conservation, the population of this primate species continues to dwindle at a rapid rate in many parts of its known range. Which stretches from Nigeria to Togo in a discontinuous belt. The Okomu National Park (ONP) Nigeria, which was reported as the best location for its conservation WTM in its range, is therefore a good location to assess residents’ attitudes to hunting, consumption, crop damage and conservation efforts of stakeholders. Multistage random sampling technique was used in the selection of one hundred and seventy seven (177) respondents who were adult residents in four (4) out of the seventeen (17) communities surrounding ONP.
Majority (58.8%) of respondents were farmers, 45.2% earned monthly incomes of between $255.94 - $501.84. While most respondents (81.36%) knew a neighbor who hunted WTM, 67.8% hunted within their farms, which were mostly located 500-1000m to ONP boundary, 63.2% of respondents hunt throughout the year; however 96.5% were aware of laws prohibiting hunting of WTM. Park Activities (68.1%) was the most common source of information on these laws. Most respondents (84.7%) were willing to stop hunting WTM, though 65% of them consumed WTM, while its preference over other meats was low at 14.8%. Perception of WTM as a major pest of farm produce was high at 75.1% and notable was banana/plantain (46.3%). Respondents were of the opinion that the efforts of individuals (62.2%); communities (89.3%) and ONP Management (63.8%) at conserving WTM were adequate.
Findings in this study suggested that hunting and consumption of white throated monkey was high around Okomu National Park, however many residents were willing to stop hunting the primate species.
Keywords: Anthropogenic activities, protected area, white throated monkey, primate conservation.
Topics: Natural Resource and Conservation Stakeholders: Managing Expectations and Engageme
