Forms and trends of encroachments were investigated in Cross River National Park (CRNP) of Nigeria with the view of ascertaining the prevailing forms, trends, strategies of poaching and ecological consequences of illegal exploitations on the state of species in the biodiversity hotspot; that is contiguous with Korup and Takamanda national parks of Cameroon. Data for this study were obtained through personal observations, administrative record, structured questionnaires and in depth interview with experienced members of park protection staff who have been in the park for a minimum period of five years and are therefore quite knowledgeable about wildlife management and protection in the park. A set of questionnaire was randomly administered to 40 Park protection staff of CRNP in other to examine the forms, trends, intensity and reasons for encroachment in the park. Data on trend of arrest being an indicator of encroachment was collected from the administrative record of CRNP. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics in form of percentages and frequency of counts. Hunting (100%) and collection of Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) (75%) were implicated as the highest form of encroachment in the park while fuel wood collection (15%) was the least. The highest and lowest forms of arrest between 1991 and 2014 were 12.8% and 0.2% respectively. The least annual arrest (0.2%) recorded between 1991 and 2014 was in 1994 and 1995 respectively. Out of 616 arrests made between 1991 and 2014 34.%, 28.9% and 26.1% were for logging, hunting and collection of NTFPs respectively while aiding and abetting had the least record of only 1.6%. Nevertheless most respondents implicated households of host and enclave communities as encroachers (85.00%) and aiders of encroachments (95.0%) in CRNP. Cross River National Park is porous to non-seasonal encroachment as the anti poaching operations therein are ineffective.

The buffer zones of Nigerian protected areas are poorly managed. Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas) was studied in fact owing to its dearth of information on its ecology and existence in South-West Nigeria National Park. Therefore, it was necessary to examine E. patas spatial distribution and population structure in the Old Oyo National Park buffer zone ranges, situated in South-West Nigeria and as well know its dietary uptake alongside delineating its various activities. Observations were positioned on direct census methods. A total of 60 individuals of E. patas (23 female, 21 male, and 16 young individuals) were sighted within the study period (March to July). The results showed that the highest number of sighted E. patas (18 individuals) was recorded in the month of March while the Marguba range had the highest percentage of sighted E. patas (31.7%). Thirteen plant species were identified as food matters of E. patas while the major activity observed by the majority of E. patas was found feeding on the identified food matters. The food matters consumed were plant parts which included the leaves, flowers, gum, enflamed spikes, and fruits. Actions to uphold and guard the remaining populace of E. patas in the Park and buffer zones should be adequately fortified.

A 49-day experiment was conducted with a total of 240 Arbor acre broiler chicks, to determine the effect of probiotic supplementation on graded levels of shea kernel cake meal (SKCM) on their haematological and serum biochemical indices. The birds were randomly grouped into four dietary treatments comprising of 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% inclusion levels of SKCM as T1 , T2 , T3 and T respectively in a completely randomized design having 5 replicates with 12 chicks each. Diet T served as the control, without SKCM and probiotic addition, while diet T2 , T3 and T4 were supplemented with 0.5g/kg Biovet-YC® at both starter and finisher phases. Feed and water were given ad-libitum and routine management were strictly observed. At the end of the feeding trial, three broilers per replicate were randomly selected and blood collected using hypodermal syringe into two different labeled bottles with or without an anti-coagulant (EDTA) for haematology and serum biochemistry investigation respectively. The results showed that there were significant (P<0.05) increase in the white blood cell count and corresponding decrease (p<0.05) in serum triglyceride and cholesterol concentration of birds fed probiotic supplemented SNCM diets. However, other blood parameters measured were not affected (p>0.05) by the probiotic supplementation. Therefore, it can be concluded that incorporation of probiotic supplemented SKCM up to 15% inclusion level did not have any deleterious impact on blood status of the broilerchickens.

Abstract. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of multienzyme+probiotic (MEP) supplementation on carcass characteristics and serum biochemistry of broiler chickens fed fermented shea butter cake meal (FSBCM) based diets. A total of two hundred and sixty (260), 28-day-old broiler chicks were distributed into four treatments, with five replicates of 13 birds each using a completely randomized design and reared on deep litter system from 28 to 56 days of age. The four treatments were: positive control – T1 (corn-soybean based diet); negative control – T2 (20% FSBCM replacement for corn in T1); diet 3 – T3 (T2 diet + 0.05% MEP) and diet 4 – T4 (T2 diet + 0.10% MEP). On day 56, two birds per each pen were selected for carcass and organ evaluation and other two birds per replicate were selected for serum biochemical analysis. The results indicated that addition of MEP to FSBCM diet caused a significant (p<0.05) increase in live weight, dressing percentage and breast meat yield than FSBCM diet without MEP and did not differ from the T1 diet. The abdominal fat in birds fed MEP treated diets were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those groups fed PC and FSBCM diets. Serum glucose was similar (p>0.05) between birds fed PC and MEP treated diets but significantly (p<0.05) higher than those on FSBCM diet, whereas serum cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase concentrations reduced significantly (p<0.05) in groups fed MEP supplemented FSBCM diets. All other parameters were not significantly (p>0.05) affected by the MEP supplementation. Therefore, MEP supplementation in FSBCM based diet improved live weights and carcass attributes without any detrimental effect on blood composition of the broiler chickens.

Land encroachment is severely degrading and destroying many of Nigerian protected area as a result of high population pressure caused by high population growth and immigrations trends. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing human settlement encroachment in Kainji Lake National Park in order to established the extent to which this threat have been upheld and therefore call for park management to seek for proper approaches to deal with it. Data for this study were collected through the administration of questionnaire to the villages adjacent to Borgu sector of Kainji Lake National Park. Seven (7) randomly selected villages, namely Luma, Kuble, Audu Fari, Kali, Malale, Leshegbe and Gada Oli were surveyed. The result indicates gender of respondents where 65.09% of the responses were received from males while 34.91% from females suggesting that responses are the views from both gender parties who are mostly (33.96%) within the age range of 31–40 years and are predominantly farmer (43.42%). 88% of the respondents’ indicated that increased need of land for developments are the major causes of encroachment around the park while other human activities such as farming, deforestation and grazing of domesticated animals, by encroaching to protected areas have led into competition over natural resources. It is also established by 92% of the respondents agree that migration of people for livelihood support has led to increased competition between people and wildlife hence, this increase in population has consequently led to encroachment into the park as attested by a whopping 100% of the respondents. Kainji Lake National Park management need to do more in sensitizing the local communities on importance of wildlife conservation as most (54%) locals disagreed to awareness of conservation education and engages in intense vigilance against encroachment into the park land.