RELATIVE ABUNDANCE, COMPOSITION AND DISTRIBUTION OF SOME SELECTED UNGULATES IN NORTH-CENTRAL NIGERIA: IMPLICATION FOR CONSERVATION

Ungulates across West Africa Region have been experiencing a rapid population decline in recent decades due to over-exploitation by human for bushmeat trade. An absence of reliable data on abundance and distribution of ungulates makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of conservation efforts to stabilize their populations. This study estimated the relative abundance, population structure and distribution of four ungulates taxa using 4km x 3km transect survey across a 3970 km2 within 4 vegetation communities in Borgu Sector of the Kainji Lake National Park in North-Central Nigeria. The results showed total mean abundance of 24 ± 5.75 ungulates per km2 in both seasons with Hippotragus equinus and Kobus kob being the most common and widely distributed species across the vegetation communities and seasons. The relative abundance of Hippotragus equinus in both wet and dry seasons was the highest 2.31 ± 0.83 group km-2 and 2.77 ± 0.88 group km-2 respectively. The low ungulates abundance at the area suggests that strict hunting of these species is critical to securing their long-term survival and population viability as well as an effective monitoring. Hippotragus equinus had the highest number of individual species sighted in both wet (126) and dry (133) seasons. Abundance distribution models in dry season (0.4477) was higher than that of wet (0.3741). Riparian forest woodland habitat harboured the highest population of the selected artiodactyla in both wet (86) and dry (90) seasons. Phacochoerus africanus had the least number of population structure- adult female (4), sub-adult male (3), sub-adult female (0) and juvenile (3). The relative abundance of Hippotragus equinus in both wet and dry seasons were 2.31 ± 0.83 group km-2 and 2.77 ± 0.88 group km-2 respectively. Vegetation improvement and regular anti-poaching activities should be embarked upon to stabilize the dwindling population of the selected artiodactyla.