VIEWS AND GAINS OF WOMEN ON BUSH MEAT TRADE IN BUFFER ZONE RANGES OF OLD OYO NATIONAL PARK, NIGERIA

The study examined the views and gains of women on bush meat trade in Buffer Zone Ranges of Old Oyo National Park, Nigeria. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 270 women living in the study area. Data were collected through a well-structured interview schedule and analysed using descriptive statistics and linear regression. Results showed that majority of the respondents were within the age bracket of more than 40 years (57.78%), married (72.96%), had formal education (61.85%) and earned an average of less than 40000 Naira monthly (51.48%). The respondents indicated a high view that unregulated hunting and business of wild animal species as a factor that can destroy the environment (x̅ = 6.54) and on hunting and business of bush meat as not being a good livelihood activity (x̅ = 5.14). The gains of women on bush meat trade in the study area are that it guarantees them cheap access to animal protein (x̅ = 6.86) and the business in bush meat gives them a high return (x̅ = 6.17). The linear regression results showed that age (β1 = +0.467), household size (β2 = +0.621), education (β3 = +0.652) and average monthly income (β4 = +0.803) of the respondents significantly influenced their view on bush meat trade in the study area. Based on the findings, the study recommended that massive enlightenment campaigns need to be embarked upon by both governmental and non-governmental organizations to change their mind-set of women on the implication of bush meat trade in the study area.