AWARENESS, ATTITUDES AND PERCEPTIONS OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES TOWARDS PRIMATE CONSERVATION IN SELECTED FOREST PATCHES, OSUN STATE NIGERIA

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine local communities’ awareness, attitudes and perceptions towards primate conservation in Ede, Ara and Ejigbo forest patches in Osun state, Southwest Nigeria. The study was qualitative and quantitative involving the use of oral interview and structured questionnaire administration. The population for the study were the residents of the selected communities’ and the community heads. In all, 20 communities in and around the forestpatches were selected for the study consisting of 3 in Ede north, 6 in Ara and 11 in Ejigbo. The total number of the respondents was 384; consisting of 43 from Ede North, 46 in Ara and 295 in Ejigbo. Data collected were collated and coded using Microsoft Excel. Results were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 23) and Hypotheses were tested using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Pearson’s Correlation. The study showed that the highest percentage of the respondents (75.1%) were male while 66.9% were in the age group of 25 to 54 years. Largest percentage of the respondents (57.2%) were extremely aware of the presence of the non-human primates while 91.6% of the respondents has sighted the non- human primates in the areas. The respondents had high knowledge of the primates in their areas through identification. Two primate species were commonly sighted in the study areas which include the Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) and the Mona monkey (Cercopithecus mona). In addition, 71.7% were in support of the primate conservation in the area while 22.0% of the respondents were willing to participate strongly in the conservation of the non-human primates. Most respondents declared a positive attitude towards primates and their conservation while some respondents considered primates to be conserved for future generations since they resembled humans and are part of nature. ANOVA result indicated that there was a significant difference in the awareness of primates (p<0.05) in the communities and in their knowledge of Patas monkey (p<0.01). Also, Pearson's correlation showed that household size (p< 0.01), awareness of primates (p<0.01) and willingness to participate in primate conservation (p<0.01) had significant relationship with the respondents’ attitudes towards primate conservation. On the basis of the findings from this study, it was concluded that four species of the non-human primates (Patas monkeys, the Mona monkeys, Red Capped Mangabeys and the Baboons) were identified in the communities around Ede, Ara and Ejigbo forest patches. Furthermore, high percentage of the respondents showed positive attitudes and perceptions towards primate conservation and were willing to support and participate in primate conservation around the forest patches. It is therefore recommended that measures such as community-based conservation programmes are necessary in order to protect the primate and their habitat in Ede, Ara and Ejigbo forest patches