Advancing Wildlife Conservation in Nigeria: Integrating Behavioural Ecology and Cutting-Edge Technologies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64229/7v5dsf29Keywords:
Conservation Technology, Behavioural Ecology, Community-Based Conservation, Non-Invasive Monitoring, Wildlife Management, Cross River GorillaAbstract
Nigeria, recognised as one of Africa's biodiversity hotspots, hosts exceptional species diversity including unique primate populations like the Cross River gorilla and Nigeria-Cameroon chimpanzee. However, this rich biological heritage faces escalating threats from habitat fragmentation, poaching, and climate change. This review synthesises innovative approaches in behavioural ecology, movement ecology, and conservation technology that are transforming wildlife research and protection in Nigeria. We examine how non-invasive monitoring techniques, including camera traps, acoustic sensors, and genetic analyses, are providing unprecedented insights into animal behaviour, spatial ecology, and population dynamics without disturbing sensitive species. The integration of community-based conservation models with technological innovations has demonstrated particular success in engaging local populations as active partners in protection efforts. We highlight case studies from Nigerian protected areas such as Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary and Cross River National Park where these approaches have been effectively implemented. Additionally, we explore how landscape genetics and species distribution modelling are guiding conservation planning in the face of rapid environmental change. Despite these advances, significant challenges remain in scaling up these technologies and approaches, including funding limitations, technical capacity building, and infrastructure development. This review identifies future research priorities and strategic directions for strengthening wildlife conservation science in Nigeria, emphasising the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and context-specific methodologies. By critically assessing the current state and potential of these innovative approaches, we provide a comprehensive roadmap for advancing conservation behavioural ecology and species protection in Nigeria and across the West African region.
References
[1]Sisya, E. S., Moyo, F., Martin, E. H., & Munishi, L. K. (2023). Does variation in plant diversity and abundance influence browsing intensity in black rhinos? African Journal of Ecology, 61, 606–616. https://doi.org/10.1111/aje.13145
[2]Mewis, I., Bernhardt, N., Bönisch, M. et al. In situ conservation of Helosciadium nodiflorum: a crop wild relative of celery in Germany. Conserv Genet 25, 227–243 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-023-01554-x
[3]Oda, F. H., Signorelli, L., de Souza, F. C., de Souza, V. C., Almeida, W. de O., Pereira, L. N., & de Morais, A. R. (2022). Drymarchon corais (Colubridae) and Caiman crocodilus (Alligatoridae) use different feeding behaviors to consume poisonous toads. Biotropica, 54, 566–570. https://doi.org/10.1111/btp.13089
[4]Pleyer, M., Lepic, R. & Hartmann, S. Compositionality in Different Modalities: A View from Usage-Based Linguistics. Int J Primatol 45, 670–702 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10764-022-00330-x
[5]Wallach, A. D, Ramp, D., Benítez-López, A., Wooster, E. I. F., Carroll, S., Carthey, A. J. R., Rogers, E. I. E., Middleton, O., Zawada, K. J. A., Svenning, J.-C., Avidor, E., & Lundgren, E. (2023). Savviness of prey to introduced predators. Conservation Biology, 37, e14012. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14012
[6]Tiede, J., Iuliano, B. & Gratton, C. Agriculturally intensified landscapes are associated with reduced body condition of lady beetles. Landsc Ecol 37, 1921–1936 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-022-01458-0
[7]Linda M Penfold, Marc Criffield, Mark W Cunningham, Deborah Jansen, Mark Lotz, Colin Shea, Dave Onorato, Long-term evaluation of male Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) reproductive parameters following genetic introgression, Journal of Mammalogy, Volume 103, Issue 4, August 2022, Pages 835–844, https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyac029
[8]Lameira, A.R., Perlman, M. Great apes reach momentary altered mental states by spinning. Primates 64, 319–323 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10329-023-01056-x
[9]Oehler, F., Kimmig, S., Hagen, R., Kimmerle, J., Cress, U., Hackländer, K., Arnold, J., Flemming, D., & Brandt, M. (2024). The role of information presentation for wildlife knowledge, attitude, and risk perception. Conservation Science and Practice, 6(3), e13089. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13089
[10]Moysi, M., Ogolowa, B.O., Nikiforou, C., Dretakis, M., Purcell, J., Brelsford, A. and Kirschel, A.N.G. (2023), Genomic data reveal contrasting patterns of divergence among island and mainland birds of the Eastern Mediterranean. Ibis, 165: 829-843. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.13178
[11]Khamayseh, M.M., Kidak, R. Equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics study on the biosorption of reactive levofloxacin antibiotic on Pithophora macroalgae in aqueous solution. Environ Monit Assess 195, 301 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-023-10925-3
[12]Cioccarelli, S., Bianchi, B., Giunchi, D. et al. Use of the sun compass by monocularly occluded homing pigeons in a food localisation task in an outdoor arena. Anim Cogn 26, 1985–1995 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-023-01827-5
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Okiri Kuloochi Ahmah (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
