Anthropogenic Activities and Loss of Wildlife in Cross River State, Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between anthropogenic activities and wildlife loss in Cross River State, Nigeria. Specifically, it investigated the extent to which deforestation and mining activities predict wildlife loss. A survey research design was adopted. Using stratified and proportionate random sampling techniques, 770 respondents were selected from 42 communities across 10 local government areas covering the three senatorial zones of the state. Data were collected using the Anthropogenic Activities and Loss of Wildlife Questionnaire (AALWQ), which yielded a test–retest reliability coefficient of r = .80. Data were analyzed using simple linear regression at the .05 level of significance. Results revealed that deforestation significantly predicted wildlife loss, R = .452, R² = .205, F(1, 762) = 111.37, p < .001, accounting for 20.3% of the variance. Mining activities also significantly predicted wildlife loss, R = .544, R² = .296, F(1, 762) = 182.01, p < .001, accounting for 29.4% of the variance. The findings underscore the urgent need for strengthened forest governance and environmentally responsible mining practices to safeguard biodiversity in Cross River State.