Impact of Agricultural Activities in Boundary Communities on Wildlife Management in the Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria

Abstract

Structured questionnaire was administered in six (6) sampled communities at the boundary of Old Oyo National Park. The communities were purposely chosen due to their proximity to the park. The questionnaire was designed to collect information on the encroachment of agricultural activities on the park. A total of hundred and twenty (120) respondents were randomly selected and interviewed. The study revealed the inhabitants of the communities encroached on the park land for farming (100%) while the water bodies of the park and its banks are used for fishing purposes (86%). Also the boundary agriculture communities utilized the park by poaching on the wild animals and looping the trees to enhance hunting expedition during festivity periods in their communities. The respondents identified some species of fishes that spawn within the park water bodies, the most prevalent being Tilapia zilli, Clarias angualaris and Hemichromis faciatus and the least being Eutropius niloticus. The agricultural communities interacted with during the period of this survey did not support the total management of anti poaching control on the park resources, but agreed to selective control of the park resources to check the excessive fauna and flora loss through agricultural activities. The respondents identified some communities that most engaged in grazing their livestock within the park boundary communities, the most prevalent being Alaguntan (18%) and the least being Oloka (9%).