WILDLIFE CONSERVATION IN NIGERIA’S NATIONAL PARKS

This book examined the performance of uniform wildlife laws in four selected National Parks in Nigeria between 1991 and 2004. The study became necessary because some authors have argued that the rapid loss of wildlife species in protected areas are largely attributable to the gross deficiencies inherent in the wildlife laws applied without considerations of the peculiar characteristics of the host communities and ecological differences in the respective protected areas. The study, therefore, appraised the occurrence of various wildlife offences in relation to convict sentences applicable to wildlife offenders. Wildlife legislation clauses which were detrimental to wildlife conservation in the national parks were identified and discussed. The study determined if equal application of wildlife laws in the national parks have similar and effective influence irrespective of the differences in geographical locations of the parks, ecological and socio- cultural characteristics of the host communities. Factors affecting the performance of uniform wildlife laws in the national parks were identified and discussed exhaustively.