Evaluation of Visitor Management Strategies at Jos Wildlife Park, Plateau State, North Central Nigeria

This study evaluates visitor management strategies at Jos Wildlife Park in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. Wildlife parks require systematic visitor management to balance tourist satisfaction with conservation objectives, yet empirical assessments of such strategies at Nigerian parks remain limited. A descriptive survey design is adopted with questionnaires administered to 130 visitors and semi-structured interviews conducted with 10 park management officials. Variables assessed include visitor flow regulation, interpretive services, signage quality, guided tour availability, facility conditions, and compliance with conservation rules. Findings reveal that visitor flow management is largely informal, with no defined visitor capacity limits enforced during peak periods. Conservation signage is rated as unclear or absent by 58 percent of visitors, and only 40 percent of respondents report having access to an official park guide during their visit. Illegal wildlife contact by visitors is reported by staff as a recurring management challenge. The study recommends introduction of timed ticketing systems to regulate daily visitor numbers, investment in bilingual interpretive signage covering indigenous flora and fauna, and formalisation of a trained volunteer guide programme. Partnerships with universities in Plateau State for wildlife management research support are also proposed to strengthen conservation outcomes at Jos Wildlife Park. Keywords: visitor management, wildlife park, conservation, Jos, sustainable tourism