LOSS OF BIOLOGICAL FAUNA (BIODIVERSITY) IN NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION
Biological diversity commonly referred to as biodiversity is the variety of life forms on earth which is composed of the number of species of plants, animals and microorganism, the enormous diversity of genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests, savannah and coral reefs (The Beehive, 2011).
Biodiversity is the number and variety of organism found within a specified geographical region, it is the quantity of plant and animal species in a given environment.  Babsal and Co. (1998), further states that biodiversity means the number, variety and variability of living organism usually defined in terms of genes, species and ecosystems corresponding to fundamental and hierarchicallyrelated levels of biological organization.
Nigeria is located in the western part of Africa between latitudes 4⁰16’N and 14⁰37’E.  It occupies a total land area of 923,768km2 with a population 160 million people (Wikipedia, 2011).  By virtue of its geographical extent, it spans different climatic and ecological zones.  The variable climatic conditions and physical features have endowed Nigeria with a very rich biodiversity.  The mean annual rainfall range from about 450 mm in the north east to about 3500 mm in the coastal south east, with rain falls within 90 to 290 days respectively.  The mean annual temperature range from 27⁰C in the south to 30⁰C in the north with extreme of 14⁰C and 45⁰C and an altitude range of 0 – 1000m above sea level (FGN, 2010).

Available literature has shown that today’s human activities are an empirical evidence of humans ruining what nature has bestowed to their care for sustainability. Westing, Warwick and Renner (2001) reported that man more than ever before is encroaching extensively upon what remains relatively of wild nature all over the world. Forests are being exploited and cleared, and converted into croplands with intensified use. As various human activities exert pressures on the global environment, biological diversity declines as habitats are being transformed (Whitmore &Sayer, 1992). In Nigeria for example, twenty one of the known bird species are facing serious threat of extinction or loss of habitat (Olatunbosun, 2013). The situation is worrisome as two of these species-Anambra Waxbill and the Ibadan Malimbe exist only in Nigeria and nowhere else in the world (Olatunbosun, 2013). The aim of this research is to examine the causes and solutions to the loss of biological fauna in Nigeria.

WILD FAUNA IN NIGERIA
Nigeria is rich in wild fauna resources, and can therefore boast of a high biodiversity. There are 22,000 vertebrate and invertebrate species, about 20,000 insect, 1,000 bird, 1,000 fish, 247 mammal and 123 reptile species (Nigeria Fourth National Biodiversity Report (NFNBR), 2010). The diversity of Nigeria’s wild animals can be attributed to the country’s tropical location, size and its ecosystems (FAO, 2000). These varieties of ecosystems range from rainforests in the south to moist savannah in the central part of the country and dry arid savannah in the far north. There are also freshwater, brackish and marine ecosystems occurring, while features of montane vegetation have been found at high altitudes in the eastern borderlands (Falade&Adebanjo, 2008). The country’s rich fauna is also as a result of the diverse vegetation types of these ecosystems. There are mammalian species such as the African Elephants, African buffalo and hippopotamus existing in the rainforest. Other large mammalian species found here are the large duikers, Chimpanzee, and red river-hog. The savannah areas house species such as the hartebeest and warthog and most of the carnivores. Grass cutters, Giant rats and tree squirrels are among the vast variety of small mammals that exist in the savannahs as well as a range of primates (wcsnigeria.org, 2012). The lowland rain forest provides habitat also for about 200 species of birds (FAO, 2000). Four of the bird species; Anambra waxbill, Ibadanmalimbe, Jos Plateau indigo-bird and the Rock Fire-Finch are endemic to the country, making them globally important species for conservation (Nigeria National Biodiversity strategy and action plan (NBSAP, 2007). Nigeria is also noted as a global hotspot for some species of primate. A great diversity of this is found especially in the Gulf of Guinea forests of Cross River State. Some of these species are endemic to Nigeria, like the white-throated monkey, Sclater’s guenon and the Niger Delta red colobus.
Table 1
Endemic Wild fauna species in Nigeria
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians

Sclater’sGuenom
Ibadan malimbe
Dunger’s file snake
Nigerian toad

Fox’s Shaggy Rat
Jos-Plateau Indigo bird
Wormsnake
Danko puddle frog

Gotel Mountain soft furred mouse
Rock firefinch
Giant forest Gecko 


Savanna swamp shrew
Anambra waxbill
Ondo forest Gecko


Forest Shrew

West African worm lizard


Delta Red Colobus monkey









Source. http://lntreasures.com/nigeria.html.
Sedghi (2013) reported on the latest update of the IUCN Red List of threatened animal species across the regions of the world. IUCN collectively categorizes as threatened, species that are listed as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable. Thus of the 71,576 animal species that were assessed, 21,286 were said to be threatened with extinction.
Table 2
Threatened biodiversity in Nigeria
SPECIE
STATUS

Cross River Gorilla
Critically endangered, approximately 100 remaining at 3 sites in Cross River

Forest Elephant
Endangered, small population found in Oban and Okwango division of Cross River National Park

Savannah Elephant
Endangered, last remaining population may be in Yankari game reserve, where approximately 450 are left

Nigeria-Cameroon Chimpanzee
Critically endangered, with 1500-3000 left in Nigeria

African Lion
Presently critically endangered in Nigeria, with about 50 left in the wild at Yankari and Kainji-lake National Park.

Niger Delta red colobus monkey
Critically endangered, found in the marshy forests of central Niger-Delta

Preuss’s red colobus monkey
Threatened locally with extinction, and found around the Oban hills of Cross River national park

Grey-headed Picathartes
Threatened

Preuss’s guenon
Threatened, found in the Obudu plateau and Okwango areas of Cross-River state and South-west Cameroon

Leopard
Endangered, though there is very little information. The few left may be found at Gashaka-Gumti national park

African Wild Dog
Endangered, hunted out at GashakaGumti recently, but may still be found at Kainji-lake national park. 

Gazelle
Endangered

Giraffe
Endangered

Nile crocodile
Endangered

Source. IUCN Red list (2013).

CAUSES OF LOSS OF BIOLOGICAL FAUNA
Available evidence shows that biodiversity is being lost at a disturbing rate in Nigeria.  The causes of biodiversity loss are largely related to human factors.  These are due to interaction with the environment for development, improved quality of life resulting from industrialization, technological advancement and rapid growth in urbanization.The direct causes of biodiversity loss in Nigeria include the following economic policies, rising demand for forest products, cultural practices, poor law enforcement and weak laws.  Some of the major causes of loss of biological fauna are explained blow:
Population Pressure
As already indicated, the population of Nigeria is expected to increase to about 150 million by 2011.  This will result in increased demand for natural resources thereby posing threats to biodiversity.  With increase in population and consequent increase in demand for biodiversity resources, natural habitats are being destroyed for plantation establishment, irrigation, urbanization, roads, food and livestock production, and non-timber forest resources utilization. Threat to wildlife due to unsustainable hunting. High intensity of illegal exploitation of these species has continued to pose serious threats to the country’s forest resources.
Destruction and Loss of Wild Habitats
The ever increasing population in Nigeria may mean that more people will encroach on the few remaining natural ecosystems for wild animals. These larger populations are concentrated in the forested areas of the south and the large urban centres of the far north (Nigeria First National Biodiversity Report (NFNBR), 2001). Coincidentally, it is in these same locations that the few remaining populations of most endangered species found in the country are left. For example, the Cross River Gorilla found in the southern forested areas of Cross River state and protected in the Cross River National park, and the Savannah Elephant found in Yankari game reserve of Bauchistate in the North. Another activity that has often resulted in destruction of wild habitat is the dry season fires mostly set by poachers. Afolayan (1977) also had reported that these early burns between January and November tended to suppress the growth of perennial grasses.
Excessive Hunting and Poaching
Hunting is perceived as a vocation in certain parts of Nigeria, especially in the rural communities where it might be a traditional family occupation. The activity takes place both day and night throughout the year, and anything larger than 2 kg is considered fair game meat (NFNBR, 2001). Poaching, which is any form of illegal entry into a protected area also has become more common as people enter to gather fuel wood, fell trees, fish and hunt without permission. In a survey of African grey parrots (Psittacuserithacus) carried out at the Ikpan forest block of the Oban sector of Cross River National Park, an area contiguous with the Korup National Park of Cameroon, it was established that trade and trafficking of these birds occurs in this area, with an average catch of eight parrots per day per man (Edem, Clement &Mfonobong, 2008). This has drastically reduced the population of parrots in the area as confessed by one of the parrot trappers who was engaged in the survey.
SOLUTIONS TO LOSS OF BIOLOGICAL FAUNA IN NIGERIA
The following strategies are proposed to enable the country preserve her rich biological fauna.
The Federal Government should implement without further delay the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan adopted in 1988 to restore Nigeria to 25% forest cover by the year 2020 and to make definite efforts to end gas flaring.
The budgetary allocation to the forestry sub-sector should be increased in order to boost national efforts at reforestation of deforested areas especially in the Middle Belt and Northern part of the country
Forest and savannah vegetation that were cleared to make way for urban development projects such as roads, schools, housing estates etc. should be replaced to maintain a good environment in the urban centres, this will prevent or reduce pressure on hot spot areas.
Forest reserves especially in the northern part that is prone to desertification should be strictly kept as reserves.  Laws should be enacted, so that no State governor in power has the right to remove the protection status on such reserves due to their ecological importance.
Environmental laws that control the management of several animal species should be updated and its enforcement adequate enough to punish offenders and serve as deterrent to others.
The activities of local farmers that are harmful to biodiversity and even hunters should be monitored and controlled.  This can be through public enlightenment campaigns highlighting the negative impacts of their actions and importance of maintaining biodiversity.
Zoological gardens in the country must be upgraded and well maintained to become safe conservation homes for some already endangered species and not just entertainment centres for humans.
CONCLUSION
Despite the numerous benefits man derives from wildlife resources, his reckless exploitation of the species remain unceasing and unabated. Human activities such as bush burning, hunting and poaching have continued to threaten wildlife existence in every environment. Consequently, many animals are faced with extinction and are classified either as threatened or endangered species. Conservation goals and objectives in the country’s national policy ought to be given more attention as concerned NGOs continue to implore and support the government in integrating them.



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