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Online ISSN : 2349-8080 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorinchiefijcrbp@gmail.com |
This study was carried out in Korup National Park (KNP) to examine the impact of trapping on the conservation strategies and management plan of the park ecosystem. Trapping was largely a rainy season activity and was carried out at a high level for five or six months of the year. The average trapper sets approximately 130 traps of different designs, all of which uses stare wire to construct the snare or noose. Most men are actively involved in trapping because it is easier to perform and requires little financial investment. Trapping has a crop protection function but is mainly carried out as a money earning activity. The average trapper earns approximately 75,000 CFA which accounts approximately 18% of the total village income. The most important species of wildlife for trappers are duikers (Cephalophus spp.) which accounts for approximately 60% of income. Primate account for perhaps 20% of cash income, with Red Colobus (Colobus badius preussi) and drill (Papio leucophaeus) accounting for 7% each. Over 80% of the animal off-take from the KNP (estimated at a minimum of 217kg/km2) was made up of terrestrial mammals. This revealed that wildlife exploitation is non-sustainable which supports the conjectures of local experts and the statements of half of the trappers interviewed. A probable consequence of a fall in income as a result of law enforcement might be due to conflict between local communities and conservation authorities. However, this compromised the integration of the KNP into regional development in such a way that it is surrounded by communities that actively support its existence.
