Evaluation of the Patas Monkey (Erythrocebus Patas) Lifestyle and Habitat Management Strategies in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria, for the Development of Ecotourism

Introduction

A habitat is the type of natural environment in which a particular species of organism lives. A species’ habitat is where a specific animal species can find food, shelter, protection, and mates for reproduction [1]. Wildlife habitats are areas distributed horizontally and vertically across the landscape that fulfill the needs of a specific wildlife species for the basic requirements of food, water, reproduction (nesting), and protection (cover) against predators and competitors. Habitat provides the space requirements that allow wildlife to occupy, move around, and generally survive and cope with climatic extremes [2]. The concept of wildlife habitat varies according to the needs of each animal species. For land managers, the concept may be simplified to include a description of those areas that are best suited for a species to nest, roost, forage, and reproduce successfully.

Management can be described as the wise application of resources to achieve a goal. Wildlife management necessitates habitat change in order to suit the animals’ basic needs. This is changing the types, amount, or arrangement of food, water, and cover in a habitat in order to make it more suited for a particular species. Proper knowledge about wildlife and its environment is required for wildlife management and conservation projects [3]. Wildlife management entails the management of an entire ecosystem, not only the preservation of specific plant and animal species. When ecosystems are threatened, so are the animals that dwell there; wildlife is protected when habitats are protected.

Forest lands have been designated for biodiversity conservation by many nations of the world; these are otherwise referred to as forest reserves/protected areas. A protected area/forest reserve is a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-time conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values [4]. In national parks, forest reserves and other protected areas, unique natural resources (flora and fauna), sceneries and landscapes areas are protected, managed and regulated for human benefit from one generation to another. Protection helps maintain ecological processes that cannot survive in most intensely managed landscapes and seascapes [4].

The belief of most people that live around protected areas is that wildlife is a gift from nature and is owned by everybody hence there is no need restricting its use. Most people inherit only hunting equipment and skill from their parents; as a result, poaching is not viewed by such people as a crime against wild animals and breach of law of the land on protected areas [5]. Destruction of the animals’ habitat and indiscriminate killing of young and pregnant animals leads to the disappearance of valuable wild animal species. Other factors that influence biodiversity or species loss are poaching, over-exploitation of forest, urbanization and other competing land-use activities [6].

African savannas support a uniquely diverse fauna whose conservation, unfortunately, is marred by increased habitat encroachment and illegal hunting [7]. Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) also known as wadi monkey or hussar monkey is a ground-dwelling monkey belonging to family Cercopithecidae of the grand order primates. Although, patas monkey is still widespread and numerous, yet vulnerable to poaching and habitat loss because it is occasionally hunted for food, and is also persecuted as a crop pest in several range countries. It is threatened by habitat loss due to increasing desertification as a result of land-use practices (overgrazing by cattle, clearance of savanna for crops) [4].

Kainji Lake National Park (KLNP) management set aside some areas for the management of the patas monkey, however, the conservation of this animal is threatened because the inhabitant of the communities around the park are unemployed as most of their soil is unsuitable for agriculture leaving nothing other than hunting and harvesting of natural resources from forests around them. The specie could easily become more threatened due to increasing deforestation as a result of land-use practices which has caused severe population declines [4]. It is suspected that the situation will be worse now that a lot of advancements in hunting techniques and poaching strategy are unfolding daily. There is therefore, a need to put in place strategies and conservation measures to maintain the status of the habitat for the effective protection of these species.

Discussion

The study revealed that large area of land was designated for the effective management of the patas monkey in the study area. All the plots assessed were on the Bukar Shuaib track Table 10 in the Borgu sector of the park. This track occupies a wide range of habitats from riverine and montane forests to savannas, open woodland and forest edges as well as mangrove swamps. This is an indication that patas monkey is hardy and can survive under different vegetation and weather condition. Similar observations were reported by Zinner D, et al. [10]; Getachew, et al. [11] on grivet monkey in eastern and central Eritrea and Zegie Peninsula, Ethiopia respectively where wide range of habitat are been utilize by the species. Feeding on wide range of plants and omnivorous nature of patas monkey (i.e. having both plants and animal diet) could be a factor that favours the adaptability of the animal to different types of habitat. The fact that patas monkey sighted in the park runs on sensing human presence is an indication that the animal did not like disturbance and probably not friendly and playful like some other species of monkey. This observation further confirms the report of Morjan MD, et al. [12] that patas move away from human disturbances.

The high number (35) of tree species belonging to 19 families obtained in this study indicates that the park site has a great potential for flora and wildlife conservation, since one of the criteria for considering an ecosystem as a good game reserve and ecotourism destination is its biodiversity richness in term of plant and animal both in diversity and population. The floristic diversity obtained in this study is similar to results obtained in other protected forests as reported by Oladoye AO, et al. [13]; Olujobi OJ, et al. [14] who in separate studies recorded 57 tree species from 28 families in International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Forest Reserve and 66 tree species from 20 families in Arinta Waterfall Watersheds respectively.

The observed high level of protection for the animals within the park could be attributed to regular patrol by park wardens and rangers. This singular measure help prevents illegal human activities such as logging, farming and grazing at the park which usually results into habitat fragmentation. This assertion corroborates the submission of Goodall J, et al. [15] who report that increased in human and cattle population in most game reserve continuously putting more pressure on forest resources and has ultimately caused fragmentation and degradation of wildlife habitats More so, arrest of illegal hunters also prevents poachers from coming into the park thereby guarantee the protection of the animals in the park. This submission is in agreement with Fa JE, et al. [16]; Kümpel N, et al. [17] who both posited that hunting is a greater threat to wildlife than habitat loss particularly for large mammals, including primates. The location of the designated area (i.e patas habitat) along the route normally traversed during anti-poaching patrol by the park rangers and its closeness to the Roan gate base camp of the park is an added advantage by providing additional protection for the patas monkey.

Conclusion

This study evaluates habitat management strategies for patas monkey in kaninji lake national park. The study revealed that the animal inhabits large area of land with different vegetation structure ranging from montane forests, savannas, open woodland, forest edges and mangrove swamps in the borgu sector of the park. The study also revealed that the park is rich in biodiversity with 35 different plant species of which 2 species vulnerable and 1 endangered. The major management strategies put in place are control burning, regular patrol of the park and registration of visitors to regulate influx of criminals into the park. For effective management the habitat and consequent increase in the animal population, government should employ more personnel and procure more patrol vehicles to improve the regular anti-poaching patrol.