163Bowen Journal o f Agriculture Vol 3(2). O ctober 2006 \ / BREEDING POTENCY AND HISTORY OF SELECTED ANIMAL SPECIES IN JOS WILDLIFE PARK *Ijeomah, H. M , **Alarape, A. A. and **A. O Adetoro 'Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Nasarawa State University Lafia campus, Nasarawa State • • Department of Wildlife and Fisheries University o f Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State. ABSTRACT Anthropogenic activities have decimating implications on widlife population in the ecosystem. Breeding of wild animals in captivity was introduced a s a way to safe species from extinction but this has posed some challenges. The study surveyed the breeding potency, trend, history and infant mortality of selected animal species in Jos Wildlife Park. Data for toe study were obtained through oral interviews, observations, review of records and structured questionnaires. 24 respondents were randomly sampled. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics in form of tables, percentages and frequency of counts. Results revealed that lion, Panthera leo (Linnaeus, 1758); leopard, Pantoera pardus(Unnaeus, 1758); pigmy hippopotamus, Choeropsis liberiensis (Morton, 1849); derby eland, Taurotragus derbianus (Gray, 1847); stripped hyaena, Hyaena hyaena(Linnaeus, 1758); Grimms duiker (Syhacapra grim miaiinnaeus, 1758); Red-flanked duiker, CephaJophus rufilatus (Gray, 1846); and MaxwelFs duiker Cephatophus maxweffi (Smith, 1827); and Kob Kobus kob (Erxleben, 1777); Waterbuck, Kobus ellipsiprymnus (OgBby, 1833); and Red-fronted; gazelle, Gazella rufifrons (Gray, 1846) procured from different places have produced 17; 10; 8; 13; 24; 1; 6; 2; and 4 number of individuals respectively since inception of the park. The breeding of carnivores was between the years 1979 and 1993 with three infant mortalities. The pigmy hippopotamus, Choeropsis liberiensis bred between the years 1980 to 1992 with one infant mortality. The herbivores have been breeding almost on yearly basis with no infant mortality. Two leopards procured from the University of Ibadan did not breed. The only infant mortality recorded by toe leopard was due to cannibalism. Jos W i if e Park has been breeefing, nurturing and distributing endangered, threatened, rare and abundant species of w M fe to several conservation centres in Nigeria suggestions to improve breeding of animal species were made. Keywords: Breeding trend, Jos W idlife Park, Animal species r INTRODUCTION W ildlife could be seen as the totality o f undomesticated life. Nevertheless the m am m als birds and reptiles are always given utmost consideration because o f their relative abundance. The anthropogenic impact on the ecosystem has several implications on the w ild anim als due to its decimating effect on their population. However, many sp ecies becom e endangered, threatened and rare on earth while som e even become Breeding potency and history o f selected animals 164 extinct, whereas there is a definite relationship between every organism and its environment. In essence, each species has a role it plays in the ecosystem. Consequently, breeding of wild animals in captivity was introduced as an alternative means of protecting species from extinction for posterity. Breeding in captivity has also posed some challenges as wild animals can only breed where there is favourable environmental condition as in the natural habitat. This enables them to- feed well (Akum 1995) be psychologically relaxed, and play with mates (for those that are gregarious). Besides, good management and basic hygiene are also very relevant (Gwenlilian 1957, Bailey 1982, Ayodele 1988, Anderson 1991, Alarape 1995, Ayodele et al. 1999). Apart from the simulated environment, breeding and survival rate are also affected by the potency or vigour of the individual animal species, where and how they were procured and the priority of management. Therefore, this work surveys the breeding trend, history and infant mortality of selected animal species in Jos wildlife park. MATERIALS AND METHOD The study area, Jos Wildlife Park is located 4 kilometers East o f Jos, along Jos - Miango road, off Yakubu Gowon way, Jos, Plateau state. It is located on latitude 9°52!N and on Longitude 8053!E. The Jos wildlife park covers an area of eight square kilometers enclosing hills, streams and varied upland vegetation, with about 43 kilometers network o f Safari track. The state has an estimated population of 3 million people and is bounded by Kaduna, Bauchi, Taraba and Nasarawa states. The mean annual temperature of the state varies between 22°C in the Jos Plateau in the North and 27°C in the south of the state (FORMECU 1998). Data pertaining to breeding, animal procurement and infant mortality were collected through oral interviews, observations, review o f records and files, and structured questionnaire. The workers o f Jos Wildlife Park were the target organs. The data obtained were analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS Demographic and social characteristics o f respondents Information on the socio-economic characteristics o f respondents were analysed with regard to gender, occupation, marital status and educational qualification. Table 1 below indicates that all the respondents are Nigerians o f Plateau State origin. Most o f the respondents (79.8%) are males. The percentages o f respondents who fell between the age ranges 40-49 years, 20-29 years and 30-39 years are 41.7%, 37.5% and 20.8% respectively. Majority o f the respondents (45.8%) holds Ordinary National diploma (OND) or National Certificate o f Education (NCE). Furthermore, most o f the respondents (72.5%) have experience o f more than 5 years in wildlife management. Most of them are full time staff and 62.5% are married. Bowen Journal o f Agriculture Vol. 3(2). October 2006 165 Table 1: Demographic and social statistics of the staff respondents Parameters Variables Frequency Percentage Nationality Nigerians Non Nigerians 24 100.0 Total 0 0.0 24 100.0 State of origin Plateau State 24 100.0 Other states 0 0.0 Total 24 100.0 Age group in Years Less than 15 0 0.0 16-19 0 0.0 20-29 9 37.5 30-39 5 20.8 40-49 10 41.7 Above 50 0 0.0 Total 24 100.0 Marital status Single 9 37.5 Married 15 62.5 Widowed 0 0.0 Divorced 0 0.0 Total 24 100.0 Education level Illiterate 0 0.0 Primary 6 25.0 Secondary 2 8.4 OND/NCE 11 45.8 HND/University 5 20.8 Total 24 100.0 Nature of work Full time 23 95.8 part time 1 4.2 Total 24 100.0 Gender Male 19 79.8 Female 5 20.8 Total 24 100.0 Years of service Less than 5 9 37.5 6-10 3 12.5 11-15 4 16.7 16-20 1 4.1 21-25 3 12.5 26-30 4 16.7 Total 24 100.0 Breeding assessment o f animal species As presented in table 2, below all the respondents stated that many animal species have been breeding in Jos Wildlife Park (JWLP). All the respondents indicated that the lion, leopard, pygmy hippopotamus, and derby eland have reproduced while the elephant Breeding potency and history o f selected animals 166 and crocodile have never bred; (91.6%) o f them indicated that red river hog has produced offsprings in Jos Wildlife Park. However, only derby eland and the lion have bred since the year 2000. All the respondents indicated that breeding in the park has reduced but would want it to continue in the park as it was in the 1980’s. The respondents gave various reasons why breeding is reducing. The modal factor according to all the respondents is lack o f funding; 83.3% of respondents noted inadequate number o f cages/enclosures while 62.5% o f the respondents complain o f inadequate number o f animal species. Breeding among animal species Table 3 presents the numerical information on the animal species that have bred in the park. This includes Lion (17 cubs), derby eland (13 calves), leopard (10 kitten), and pygmy hippopotamus (8 calves). The carnivores bred between the year 1979 and 1993. With exception o f the derby eland that bred between 1980 and 2002 no other big game bred between the year 1992 and 2003. Table 3 also shows that the JWLP has distributed endangered species o f animal to many zoos in Nigeria including Kano zoo, Makurdi zoo, Maiduguri zoo, Calabar zoo, Port Harcourt zoo, Jos zoo. University o f Ilorin zoo, University o f Ibadan zoo and Nekede (Owerri) zoo. Breeding trend and infant mortality Table 4 shows that the lions produced a total o f 17 cubs with two mortality recorded. This table also depicts that out o f the ten kitten by the leopard, only one mortality was recorded. Table 4 also reveals that out o f 8 live births by the pygmy hippopotamus only one death was recorded in the year 1980. 13 births have been recorded by the derby eland species and all the calves survived. The eland also produced two different litters in the years 1981; 1985 and 2002. A total o f 5 live births without any death have been recorded for duiker species. Table 5 also shows that all the 4 births by the kob species in Jos W ildlife Park between the year 1990 and 2002 survived. DISCUSSION The study shows that quite a large number o f species bred successfully in the park. Some endangered species, lion ai d leopard bred and increased so tremendously in number that there was no place to keep them to the extent that the Jos wildlife park management JWLP started culling them. This is inconformity with the report o f Laws et al. (1970). Derby eland has been breeding almost annually with all the calves surviving. This may be attributed to the fact that the initial male and female elands were procured from different locations (Maiduguri and Kano) which has helped in checking the problems o f in-breeding. Moreover, the management supplies adequate forage throughout the year. Bowen Journal o f Agriculture Vol. 3(2). October 2006 167 Table 2: Staff assessment of animal breeding in JW L P P aram eters Variable Frequency distribution Percentage Have animals been breeding in JWLP Yes 24 100.0 No 0 0.0 Total 24 100.0 Which animals bred Lion 24 100.0 Elephant 0 0.0 Leopard 24 100.0 P. Hippopotamus 24 100.0 Derby eland 24 100.0 Crocodile 0 0.0 Red river hog 22 91.6 Since 2000 which of these animals have bred I-inn 24 100.0 Elephant 0 0.0 Leopard 0 0.0 Derby eland 24 100.0 P. Hippopotamus 0 0.0 Crocodile 0 0.0 Red river hog 0 0.0 Is breeding reducing Yes 24 100.0 No 0 0.0 Total 24 100.0 If yes why No fund 24 100.0 No cage/enclosure 20 83.3 Insufficient animals 15 62.5 Do not know 9 37.5 Do you want breeding to continue like before Yes 24 100.0 No 0 0.0 Total 24 100.0 Breeding potency and history o f selected animals 168 Table 3: History of breeding among the animal species in Jos wildlife park Species place o f Acquisition No o f births Duration Present Location o f the Youngs Lion -------1-------------------- Jos zoo About 17 1979-1993 Kano, Makurdi, Maiduguri, Enugu, Port-Harcourt and Calabar zoos Leopard Kano zoo 10 1979 1986 Unilorin, Jos, Port- Harcourt, Makurdi and Enugu zoos Pygmy hippo Liberia 8 1980-1992 Maiduguri, Kano, Jos and Port- Harcourt zoos Derby Maiduguri & Kano 13 1980 A male and female sent to Ibadan Eland zoos 2002 zoo Others intact Gazzelle Species Maiduguri zoo 2 1983 -1993 Intact Kob Species 4 1990-2002 Intact Duiker Port-Harcourt, Ibadan zoo 24 1980-2001 one sent to Owerri others intact Stripped hyaena Jos Zoo 1 Source: Ijeomah, 2003 Pigmy hippopotamus has recorded only one death due to accident. The Pygmy hippopotamus could not breed at Maiduguri but has really bred in the JWLP “hippo pool” this could be attributed to the park environment. Other species that have bred include: stripped hyaena (hyaena hyaena: Linnaeus, 1758), Kob (kobus kob: Erxleben 1777), Water buck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus:Ogilby 1833), Red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus: Linnaeus 1778), Red Flanked duiker (Cephalophus rufilatus: Gray 1846), Grimms duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia: Linnaeus 1758), Maxwell’s duiker(Cephalophus maxwelli:Smith,1827) Red - fronted Gazelle (Gazella rufifrons:Gray 1846). Species that have not bred in the park include the African elephant, Loxodonta africana(Blumenbachi 1797); Royal python, Python sabae; Nile crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus; African buffalo, Syncerus caffer (Sprrman 1779); monitor lizard, Veranus niloticus and Martial eagle Polemaetus bellicocus. The Ostriches, Struthio camelus have laid many eggs, the eggs were taken to the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Vom in April 2004 but none hatched. Bowen Journal o f Agriculture Vol. 3(2). October 2006 169 l able 4: Breeding trend and infant mortality of some selected wildlife species in JWLP A n im a l sp ec ie s D a le o f p a r tu r itio n S ize o f litte r N o su rv ived C a u se o f m o rta lity L io n 1 3 /2 /7 9 3 2 A c c id e n ta l b r e a k in g o f lim b 0 3 /1 /7 9 4 3 K il le d b y L e o p a rd 1 6 /1 /8 3 3 3 - 1 /6 /8 5 3 3 - 2 4 /5 /9 2 2 2 - 4 /1 /9 2 2 2 - T o ta l 17 15 L e o p a rd 5 /1 1 /8 2 3 3 - 1 1 /1 2 /8 2 3 3 - 3 0 /3 /8 3 2 2 • 3 0 /3 /8 6 2 1 C a m ib a li s e d b y th e m o th e r le o p a rd T o ta l (C a rn iv o re s ) 10 9 P ig m y h ip p o p o ta m u s 4 /5 /8 0 1 1 1 4 /9 /8 0 1 0 1 /1 /8 2 1 1 1 2 /1 1 /8 3 1 1 4 /9 /8 5 1 1 5 /6 /8 7 1 1 4 /5 /9 2 1 • 1 2 6 /5 /9 2 1 1 T o ta l 8 7 D e r b y e la n d 8 /2 /8 0 1 *| 5 /2 /81 1 1 2 /8 /8 1 1 1 3 /5 /8 2 1 1 1 2 /4 /8 3 1 1 1 6 /1 /8 5 1 1 1 6 /1 2 /8 5 1 1 6 /1 /8 6 1 1 4 /2 /9 1 1 1 1 0 /7 /9 3 1 1 2 9 /4 /2 0 0 0 1 1 1 6 /2 /0 2 1 1 6 /7 /0 2 1 1 T o ta l 13 13 D u ik e r s p e c ie s 8 /1 2 /8 0 1 1 3 1 /8 /8 1 1 1 2 1 /4 /8 2 1 l 3 0 /1 2 /9 3 1 1 1 4 /2 /9 4 1 1 T o ta l 5 5 K o b sp e c ie s 1 8 /4 /9 0 1 1 14/3/91 1 1 1 0 /1 /2 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 /4 /0 2 1 1 T o ta l (H e rb iv o re s ) 4 4 Breeding potency and history o f selected animals 170 The survey reveals a great reduction in the breeding o f carnivores, which increased from the inception o f the park to 1986 and finally stopped in 1993. This could be due to inadequate facilities, poor funding and neglects o f the then government o f Plateau State. Also since 1992, the Pygmy hippopotamus has not bred due to the death o f the female hippotamus ‘kwakwaya’. And attempts by the JWLP management to procure another female from Maiduguri failed. Two deaths recorded by the cubs were accidental while a leopard that grasped the cub through the wire killed one o f the cubs. Another cub broke its limb as it slips in between two woods kept for branchiation in the enclosure. The only kit recorded dead for the leopard was killed and eaten by the ‘mother’ leopard despite available meat to feed on in the cage. This is an act o f camibalism, a natural way o f population reduction in the wild. High success in breeding generally recorded is caused by the favourable environmental condition o f Jos couple with the cool environment, which encourage animals to mate. The antelopes, gray duicker, kob (tobi) had enough food with decimating factors checked so they could not be attacked by any predator as noted by Leopold (1933) on predator control. The leopard procured from the University o f Ibadan on the 17th o f December 1991 did not breed until it died. A lso in 1989 a male leopard was brought to JWLP from the university o f Ibadan zoo through animal transfer programme. This leopard stayed with the female bom in the park yet they did not breed. Nevertheless it cannot be conclusively said that their inability to breed was caused by the location o f procurement. It seem to be the period when the management have changed their priority and diverted from concentration on the breeding o f carnivores due to cost o f feeding them as they are flesh eaters. The reason which might have prompted the culling o f som e o f the animals to minimize cost in conformity with Laws et al. (1970); Ayodele (1988) For instance on the 16th o f March, 1980 when lions attacked and killed the animal keeper, Mr. Isha Jarawa, all the five lions came out o f the enclosure and the police was invited to shoot all o f them. In essence all the lions then were culled and replaced. Jos W ildlife Park has supplied lions, leopards and pygmy hippopotami to many parks and zoos in Nigeria. Elephants have not bred in JWLP. Moreso, elephant have never bred any where in Africa under captivity except in South Africa. An IUCN recognized breeder, A. S Peter (personal communication), who had participated in breeding elephants under captivity in Britain attributed the failure to breed in captivity to inadequate space, feeding, age differential and«male and female ratio. The primates and birds managed under extensive system breed profusely in the park as in the Yankari National Park. Most o f the species that have not bred may be attributed to their being either kept alone or single sex. Crpcodile i f paired in JWLP with opposite sex, may breed. However, it may likely hatch more female crocodiles because o f the low temperature always experienced in the Jos Plateau ecological zone. Since temperature affects the gender o f reptiles especially crocodiles and tortoises during breeding (Ijeomah 2003). W ildlife explorer (1996) gave a similar report that i f crocodile eggs are incubated at a temperature below 29°C all the youngs will be female. Bowen Journal o f Agriculture Vol. 3(2). October 2006 171 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATION Jos Wildlife Park was formerly a place where endangered, abundant and rare wildlife species were bred, nurtured and distributed to parks and zoos in Nigeria. Suddenly, as a result o f military intervention with their attendant policies and politics, neglects set in and breeding seriously declined. Many dead wildlife species especially the big games can hardly be replaced. Presently, JWLP is lacking: male pygmy hippopotamus, male red river hog, leopard, water buck, zebra, rhinoceros, giraffe, hyaena, warthog, male buffalo, and porcupine. Moreover, the park cannot procure these animals through other parks and zoos in Nigeria even from Maiduguri zoo, which has only a male pygmy hippopotamus and record shows that the species had never bred there. Nevertheless, the antelopes have been breeding on annual basis with no mortality recorded over the years. Thus the park should domesticate the antelopes especially derby eland because o f its adaptability, meat value, breeding potency and high infant survival rate. Besides, breeding programmes should be encouraged with excess offsprings returned to the wild, sold or donated to the zoos and parks. REFERENCES Akum, 21 E. 1995. Zoos in our community. School of wildlife, Garoua, Cameroon.3pp. Alarape, A. A. 1995. 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