Effect of Wildlife Species on the Activities of Agroforest Farmers in Ekiti State

Abstract

Continued reduction and fragmentation of natural habitat and feeding site for wildlife species through man’s developmental activities, has led to the encroachment of wildlife population into the adjacent farm land to search for food, thereby leading to destruction of agroforestrytrees and crops.This study examined the effect of wildlife species on activities of agroforest farmers in Ekiti State forest reserves. The study area was stratified on the basis of vegetation into two zones (rain forest and derived savannah zones). Eighty pretestedquestionnaireswererandomly administered to farmers for collection of data. Information obtained revealed that majority of the respondents are married (93%), middle age (50%) men (60 %). Mammals and aves contitutes the highest group of animals present.The respondents opined that wildlife species impact both negatively and positively on their trees and crops. Some of the damages done by wildlife to trees and crops includes; cutting, uprooting, trampling, defoliation, browsing of young shoot and leaves and plucking of fruits.Finally the result shows that control measure such asthe use of dog, chemical, trapping, scared off by guards, hunting, poison,use of charm and use of human statue, were employed to checkmate the activities of these animals on farmers farmlands.