Bioresources (FAUNA) assessment of wildlife for traditional medicine in markets of Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Bio-resources are naturally occurring gifts but wildlife (as their fauna aspect) lives in natural environments undisturbed by man. Wildlife constitutes significant parts of traditional medicine in Africa and there is shift of patronage from orthodox to native medications in developing countries due to economic situations. This study therefore assessed the wild avian, mammalian and reptilian species used for traditional medicine in Ibadan. Four sub urban markets: Bode in Molete area, Ijokodo, Oje and Sanngo were visited while Akufo a rural settlement was also visited. Heads of stakeholders’ associations were contacted and interviewed using structural questionnaire. Data generated were analysed using Descriptive statistics of sums, bar chart and percentages. Results revealed that the business is divided into hunting, trading and herbalism. Also that traders and herbalists are concentrated in suburban areas while hunters are found mostly in rural communities. Investigations also showed that there was no educational requirement for the business, besides all respondents were married but the idea of zoonotic diseases was low among them. More respondents believed that wildlife abundance and distribution are higher during dry than wet seasons. Out of 45 animal species recorded in this study, mammals were more utilised in traditional medicine than birds and reptiles. The same was their population status in the wild as the number of endangered, threatened and vulnerable wild animals utilised for traditional medicine in Ibadan involved more mammals than birds and reptiles. Except for some big mammals, wild animals captured in this study are used as wholes especially birds and some snakes. Recommendations of Government sensitization for the public against indiscriminate wildlife exploitation especially those that have drastically reduced in the wild to save them from extinction were made.