HUMAN-MONKEY COEXISTENCE IN THE HOST COMMUNITIES OF OSUN OSOGBO SACRED GROVE, NIGERIA

• B. O. Adetola

  Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria Phone: +2348032261931

  Author

Human-wildlife co-existence is an important determinant of animal welfare as it assesses the close connection between human and wildlife. This research assessed the Human-monkey interaction in the neighboring communities of Osun Osogbo grove. Primary data was used for the study, which involved a self-designed questionnaire that was administered to members of the host communities bordering the heritage site. Two (2) communities (Opeoluwa and Isale Osun) within 1-2km from the sacred grove were purposively sampled for data collection. Two hundred questionnaires were administered to one hundred (100) community members each from the selected communities. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive and Chi-Square statistics to determine the effects of respondents’ demographic characteristics on their spiritual belief about monkeys and its effectiveness on their conservation. The result shows that all the respondents (100%) have encountered monkeys of the sacred grove, 77% indicated that the monkeys are not hunted and 88% have observed that their population is very high. Spiritual beliefs such as the grove’s monkeys are spiritual animal (35.0%), they are messengers from God (24.0%), and taboos (17.0%) have been effective strategies for conserving these monkeys. Although, farm produce destruction, attacked on human and animals were the major problems respondent had with their co-existence with the grove’s monkeys, they still hold positive perceptions towards the monkeys as they opined that sighting monkeys within the grove is exciting for wildlife viewing and tourist attraction (mean=4.56) and continuous existence of the monkeys is very important (means=4.51). Effectiveness of spiritual belief on monkey conservation in the grove was significant (p<0.05) among respondents based on age, marital status, education and occupation. However, constraints to monkey conservation in the grove were growing demand for farmland and replacement of indigenous religion with Christianity/Islam, resulting in erosion of local religious beliefs. Therefore, management of Osun Osogbo World Heritage Site should address the challenges of human cohabitation through a compensation scheme, while also encouraging people's tolerance for wildlife and enhancing the grove's conservation goals.

1. B. O. Adetola, Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria Phone: +2348032261931

   Department of Ecotourism and Wildlife Management, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria Phone: +2348032261931

• PDF