The benefits of conservation of giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) in Koure-Boboye forest reserve area of Niger Republic.
Inah E. I., Smith O. V., Moctar I. S., Oyatogun M. O.
Author Affiliation: Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
ASSET - Series A: Agriculture & Environment 6 : 103-113
Abstract : The study focused on the benefits derived from the conservation of giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) in Koure-Boboye forest reserved area, Niger Republic. The study was conducted in ten villages which were randomly selected. For primary data, structured questionnaires were administered on 100 farmers. The result obtained showed that 100% of the respondents were aware of the existence of giraffes within the study area. The farmer's attitude to conservation of giraffes was considered good (89%) and also (81%) of them indicated their willingness to further support giraffe conservation effort. However, in the course of migration, a significant (55%) damage is caused by the giraffes on farmers' crops and the crops destroyed include millet/(plants trampling), sorghum (cobs eaten), cowpea (pods eaten), cassava (plants trampling) and mango (fruits and flowers eaten). Sixty-five percent of the farmers do not have a way of controlling the giraffes while migrating and only a few of them employ guards (10%) and construct fences (25%) round the farms. The major benefits provided by the giraffes' conservation authority in the area includes roads (83%), water (75%), tourism (95%), employment (89%) and enjoying subventions (63%) from giraffe conservation projects for the development of projects initiated by the rural people.