Awareness poster in Wula village.

Several species of birds are persecuted around the world for the perceived potency of certain parts of their body in traditional medicine and diabolical practices. Bones, heads and feet of several birds are highly sought after for their perceived powers in communication with or casting out evil spirits while feathers are exploited majorly for crowning heroism and for traditional ceremonies. These practices where birds are persecution for their body parts has recently been identified as one of the major causes of population decline in several endangered and declining species. In Africa, Nigeria is ranked above other countries in terms of the intensity at which wildlife species are persecuted for their body parts (William et al. 2012). Topmost on the list of persecuted species are avian species of conservation concern (e.g. African Grey Parrot, Vulture species, Hornbills etc.). A recent report on the West African vulture crises suggested trade on bird body parts as a possible culprit for vulture decline in the region. Therefore an assessment of the direct drivers of the trade on bird body parts is needed to offer new insights on the plight of the region’s avifauna.

Our project will identify and assess the cultural and economic drivers that promote the trade on avian body parts in the region. Our study will also identify bird species that are mostly affected by this trade and will initiate conservation awareness campaigns to reduce menace of the trade on wild birds and other wildlife.

We will conduct structured interviews across 21 communities distributed across the different part of the state. Seven communities each will be randomly selected from each of the three geographical zones (North, South and Central) that make up the Cross River State. In each of the selected community, we will interview not less than 15 people across different age classes in other to obtain information on the intensity of the trade and on the species most at risk. Questions will focus on identifying persecuted birds species, the price value of body parts and the intensity of persecution. A field guide to the birds of Western Africa will be used for proper identification of persecuted species. Using the field guide, we will show birds’ pictures to each respondent so as to confirm the species and translate bird’s names from local dialects to English.

We will carry out community focused conservation awareness meetings aimed at changing local perceptions in each of the 21 selected communities for this study. Enlightenment meetings will be held with at least one focused group in each community in effort to changing local perception concerning the trade. Media awareness campaign will be carried out through at least one television talk show that will be aired on the State’s TV station. This will cover a wider spectrum of audiences therefore stimulating the needed management actions necessary to reduce the menace of the trade and biodiversity lost at a regional scale.