The use of myths and taboos in wildlife conservation: The case of Bayelsa-East Senatorial District of Nigeria
The use of myths and taboos in species conservation represent a sustainable in situ means to wildlife protection. This study examined the role of taboos (traditional laws) in wildlife conservation within Bayelsa-East Senatorial District. Data were collected using a combination of semi-structured ope...
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ftjafricanj:oai:ajol.info:article/237126 2023-05-15T18:27:32+02:00 The use of myths and taboos in wildlife conservation: The case of Bayelsa-East Senatorial District of Nigeria Ihinmikaiye, S. O. Ochekwu, E. B. Ojo, V. I. 2022-11-25 application/pdf https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tzool/article/view/237126 eng eng University of Ibadan https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tzool/article/view/237126/224076 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tzool/article/view/237126 Zoologist (The); Vol. 20 No. 1 (2022); 141-149 1596-972X Taboos and myths animal taboo species wildlife conservation Bayelsa State info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Peer-reviewed Article 2022 ftjafricanj 2022-11-27T01:26:15Z The use of myths and taboos in species conservation represent a sustainable in situ means to wildlife protection. This study examined the role of taboos (traditional laws) in wildlife conservation within Bayelsa-East Senatorial District. Data were collected using a combination of semi-structured open-ended questionnaire guide and field observations, as well as species-evidence left behind. Informants for the study were selected from fifteen communities across the Local Government Areas (LGAs) that constitute the district. Local abundance status of the species implicated in the myths and taboos was determined within the various ecological settings, and likert scale was used to evaluate the informants’ perceptions on the taboos in relation to their effectiveness at protecting the identified species. The punishments for non-compliance with the taboos, as well as hypothetical inferences for the species conservation were documented. Ten (10) animal species in nine families were implicated in Bayelsa-East myths and taboos. The taboo animals were in 5 classes within Kingdom Animalia; members of the Class Reptilia (Crocodylus niloticus, Python regius, Python sebae and Varanus niloticus) were the most implicated; followed by Aves (Haliaetus vocifer, Macropygia doreya, Strix nebulosa). Abundance scale revealed that periwinkle (Gastropoda) was very abundant in Nembe and Brass. The informants’ perception on the effectiveness of the taboos (e.g. forbidding of hunting or killing Ekekoru, Python regius) in relation to the species protection revealed that the taboos were strongly effective in protecting the species in Nembe. The taboos in the study area were species specific, hence animals forbidden in Nembe and Brass LGA were not exclusively forbidden in Ogbia communities, and vice versa. The informants confirmed their beliefs and awe in the taboos and forbade abusive use, thus substantiating the taboos’ potential as sustainable tool for wildlife conservation. Article in Journal/Newspaper Strix nebulosa AJOL - African Journals Online |
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Open Polar |
collection |
AJOL - African Journals Online |
op_collection_id |
ftjafricanj |
language |
English |
topic |
Taboos and myths animal taboo species wildlife conservation Bayelsa State |
spellingShingle |
Taboos and myths animal taboo species wildlife conservation Bayelsa State Ihinmikaiye, S. O. Ochekwu, E. B. Ojo, V. I. The use of myths and taboos in wildlife conservation: The case of Bayelsa-East Senatorial District of Nigeria |
topic_facet |
Taboos and myths animal taboo species wildlife conservation Bayelsa State |
description |
The use of myths and taboos in species conservation represent a sustainable in situ means to wildlife protection. This study examined the role of taboos (traditional laws) in wildlife conservation within Bayelsa-East Senatorial District. Data were collected using a combination of semi-structured open-ended questionnaire guide and field observations, as well as species-evidence left behind. Informants for the study were selected from fifteen communities across the Local Government Areas (LGAs) that constitute the district. Local abundance status of the species implicated in the myths and taboos was determined within the various ecological settings, and likert scale was used to evaluate the informants’ perceptions on the taboos in relation to their effectiveness at protecting the identified species. The punishments for non-compliance with the taboos, as well as hypothetical inferences for the species conservation were documented. Ten (10) animal species in nine families were implicated in Bayelsa-East myths and taboos. The taboo animals were in 5 classes within Kingdom Animalia; members of the Class Reptilia (Crocodylus niloticus, Python regius, Python sebae and Varanus niloticus) were the most implicated; followed by Aves (Haliaetus vocifer, Macropygia doreya, Strix nebulosa). Abundance scale revealed that periwinkle (Gastropoda) was very abundant in Nembe and Brass. The informants’ perception on the effectiveness of the taboos (e.g. forbidding of hunting or killing Ekekoru, Python regius) in relation to the species protection revealed that the taboos were strongly effective in protecting the species in Nembe. The taboos in the study area were species specific, hence animals forbidden in Nembe and Brass LGA were not exclusively forbidden in Ogbia communities, and vice versa. The informants confirmed their beliefs and awe in the taboos and forbade abusive use, thus substantiating the taboos’ potential as sustainable tool for wildlife conservation. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ihinmikaiye, S. O. Ochekwu, E. B. Ojo, V. I. |
author_facet |
Ihinmikaiye, S. O. Ochekwu, E. B. Ojo, V. I. |
author_sort |
Ihinmikaiye, S. O. |
title |
The use of myths and taboos in wildlife conservation: The case of Bayelsa-East Senatorial District of Nigeria |
title_short |
The use of myths and taboos in wildlife conservation: The case of Bayelsa-East Senatorial District of Nigeria |
title_full |
The use of myths and taboos in wildlife conservation: The case of Bayelsa-East Senatorial District of Nigeria |
title_fullStr |
The use of myths and taboos in wildlife conservation: The case of Bayelsa-East Senatorial District of Nigeria |
title_full_unstemmed |
The use of myths and taboos in wildlife conservation: The case of Bayelsa-East Senatorial District of Nigeria |
title_sort |
use of myths and taboos in wildlife conservation: the case of bayelsa-east senatorial district of nigeria |
publisher |
University of Ibadan |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tzool/article/view/237126 |
genre |
Strix nebulosa |
genre_facet |
Strix nebulosa |
op_source |
Zoologist (The); Vol. 20 No. 1 (2022); 141-149 1596-972X |
op_relation |
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tzool/article/view/237126/224076 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tzool/article/view/237126 |
_version_ |
1766209660097921024 |