Indiscriminate Bushmeat Extraction and Utilization in CRNP, Nigeria

Extraction of wildlife for food is considered a significant threat to conservation of wildlife diversity in tropical forest. This work highlighted the extent of indiscriminate bush meat extraction and utilization of some fauna populations in Cross River National Park, Nigeria. Two different methods were used. The first method was used to investigate the activities involved in the extraction and utilization of wildlife resources while the other method (questionnaire administration) was used to investigate the local people's perceptions on the abundance of wildlife resources and their willingness to participate in community-based wildlife management. In this study, two preferences why wildlife resources are extracted include taste and economic values. If the status quo on consumption and utilization of fauna resources highlighted in this study is not addressed, there may be switch of status (IUCN Red-list Category) in two and half to three decades. Conservationists, wildlife managers and decision makers have never advocated for non-use (preservation) of these resources but holistic, wise-use (conservation) of these resources in order to make them sustainable.