Ethnozoological Survey of Wildlife in Cultural and Ceremonial Use by Communities in Plateau State

Wildlife species used in cultural ceremonies, traditional medicine, and ritual practices by communities in Plateau State represent a distinct but underanalysed dimension of wildlife utilisation that intersects conservation concerns with cultural rights and identity. This study conducts an ethnozoological survey documenting the species, utilisation patterns, and procurement methods for culturally significant wildlife across five ethnic communities in Plateau State: the Berom, Anaguta, Afizere, Ron, and Mwaghavul. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 95 cultural practitioners, traditional rulers, and community elders using open-ended and ranked-choice elicitation techniques. Species used in ceremonies, traditional medicine, and ritual practices were documented, photographed, and verified against taxonomic references. Procurement sources, frequency of use, and historical change in wildlife availability were explored through follow-up interview sessions. A total of 54 wildlife species were documented in cultural use, spanning mammals, reptiles, birds, and invertebrates. Crocodiles, pythons, and birds of prey appeared most frequently in high-status ceremonial contexts. Thirty-one of the documented species are listed in Nigeria's Schedule of Protected Animals. Elders consistently reported major declines in wildlife abundance over their lifetimes, affecting the availability of culturally important species and prompting substitute species substitution in several ceremonies. The study argues that culturally sensitive conservation dialogue is necessary before enforcement measures are deployed, and recommends facilitated community-state discussions on culturally appropriate wildlife use frameworks. Keywords: ethnozoology, cultural wildlife use, Plateau State, traditional practices, conservation