Wild Meat Hunting Patterns and Conservation Implications in Communities Bordering Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi State

Subsistence and commercial hunting of wild animals in communities adjacent to protected areas remains a complex conservation challenge in northeastern Nigeria, intersecting livelihood needs with biodiversity protection obligations. This study investigates the wild meat hunting patterns, species targets, and socioeconomic motivations among communities bordering Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 160 household heads across six border communities, supplemented by key informant sessions with hunters and reserve rangers. Trap transect surveys were used to estimate hunting infrastructure density near the reserve boundary. Species composition of hunted animals was documented through market surveys in three nearby towns and hunter recall data. Grasscutters, bushbuck, monitor lizards, and various rodent species were the most frequently harvested. Snaring was the dominant hunting method, deployed primarily within three kilometres of the reserve perimeter. Economic analysis revealed that wild meat contributed an average of 28% of household protein intake and 14% of cash income for hunting households. Young males with limited formal employment showed the highest hunting participation rates. Reserve rangers reported a 35% increase in snare removals over five years. The study proposes demand-reduction strategies, alternative protein supply initiatives, and reinforced community conservation agreements as complementary interventions. Keywords: bushmeat, hunting, Yankari Game Reserve, wildlife conservation, livelihood