ABSTRACT

This study was carried to evaluate the inflow of bushmeat in the market: A case study of Ekiosa market and how it affects wild life conservation. This research was carried out at Ekosa market, in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area in Edo State. The major occupation of this community is basically farming and trading. A total of 20 questionnaires were distributed, completed and retrieved from 20 bush meat sellers randomly selected in Ekiosa. For effective analysis, clarity and easy comprehension, the data obtained are tabulated and percentages worked out to reflect the proportion of the responses. The results shows that daily availability of wild animals such as grass cutter, duiker, porcupine, giant rat, monkey, squirrel, crocodile and snails in the Ekiosa market ranged from 5 – 40. The price per body parts ranged from N 500 – N3500. While the price per whole body range from N 4000 - N28000. The amount made by the sellers per week from bushmeat sales ranged from N 1600 – N24000. While the amount made per month range from N 16000 – N72000 on monthly bases. The percentage abundance of all the bushmeat species ranged from 2.60% - 20.83% daily respectively.