ASSESSMENT OF MARAUDING WILD MAMMALIAN SPECIES IN SUPPORT ZONE COMMUNITIES OF OLD OYO NATIONALPARK

Abstract

Assessment of marauding wild mammalian species in support zone communities of Old Oyo National Park (OONP) was conducted in Tede, Marguba and Yemoso Ranges of the park. Structured Questionnaires complemented with Focus Group Discussion were used for data collection. A set of 260 questionnaires were administered to the farmers within the range of 0- 5kms to the park boundary in the selected support zone villages. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive analysis. Data on distance of farmlands and level of crop raiding in the study area were correlated to determine the level of relationship. One-way ANOVA (Spearman’s rho model) was used to test for significance difference in the crop raiding at the three stages of farming/crop planted. The results of the study indicated that crop raiding was the only form of human-wildlife conflict occurring in study areas nowadays. The mammalian species that were involved in crop raiding are patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas)100%, 100% and 100%, Tantlus monkey (Chlorocebus tantalus) 71%, 60% and 81% Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), 67%, 59% and 60%, Oribi (Ourebia ourebi), 30%, 29% and 42% Bush buck (Tragelaphus scriptus), 45% 46% and 14%, Duiker (Cephaluphus spp), 19%, 10% and 13% Kob (kobus kob) 12%, 19% and 13%, Grass cutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) 43%, 32% and 29%, Giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus) 30%, 22% and 36%, Ground squirrel (Xerus erythropus) 24%, 31% and 33%, Hare (Lepus microtis) 31%, 27% and 19% in Tede, Marguba and Yemoso Range respectively. Baboon (Papio anubis) and Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) were rated first, followed by Tantalus monkey (Chlorocebus tantalus), Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) and Bush buck (Tragelaphus scriptus). Most raided crops by marauding wild mammals were maize (Zea mays), water yam (Dioscorea spp.), cassava (Manihot esculenta), soyabean (Glycine max), groundnut (Arachis hypogaea), beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), mangoes (Mangifera indica) and palm tree (Elaeis guineensis). Water yam (Dioscorea spp.) and maize (Zea mays) were the most raided crop (100%) in Tede, Marguba and Yemoso Range. While Mangoes (Mangifera indica) and Palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) were the least. The parts of the crops that were raided by the marauding animals are stem, cob, and grain of maize, tuber of yam, flower and grain of soya beans, nut of groundnut and fruits of mangoes and palm trees. The strategies that are commonly used by all respondents for the protection of their farmland are scare crows, drum beating and fire, traps and dog. Spearman’s rho correlation analysis shows that there is significant difference (r=-0.52, P< 0.01) between the level of damages and distance to the park boundary, this implies that proximity of farmlands to the park boundary has great effect on the level of crops raiding by the wild mammalian species. The finding also reveals that there is significance difference (F=9.80, P< 0.05) in relationship between stages at which crops were raided and percentage frequency of marauding mammalian species, this implies that wild mammalian species raided crops at the fruit/mature stage than planting/germination and flowering stage. The finding from the research revealed that, crop raiding is the only threat posed by the marauding mammals in the study areas. The crops that majorly raided in the study area are; water yam, maize, cassava, guinea corn, okra, ground nut, beans, soya beans, mango and palm tree.