This study investigates the cultural significance of the Nile Monitor Lizard (Veranus niloticus) in Orogun community, Delta State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods approach was employed, using questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) to gather data. The questionnaire were administered to 200 adults from the total population of the people in the community. Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis to determine significant associations. The results show that the presence of the Nile Monitor Lizard in Orogun community is not significant (χ2 = 2.418, p > 0.05) based on questionnaire responses. However, observations and KIIs confirmed the species' presence and cultural importance. The abundance of the Nile Monitor Lizard was significant (χ2 = 6.520, p < 0.05), with 60% of respondents affirming its presence. The species holds cultural significance (χ2 = 7.370, p < 0.05), with the community revering it as a deity. Interaction with the lizard is predominantly reverential (χ2 = 0.421, p > 0.05), with minimal disturbance. Conservation efforts are lacking (χ2 = 6.520, p < 0.05), with more respondents indicating a lack of support. Contrary to expectations, the Nile Monitor Lizard is not commonly used as a source of food and medicine (χ2 = 25.240, p < 0.001). The study highlights the importance of cultural conservation and traditional belief systems in protecting umbrella species like the Nile Monitor Lizard. The findings contribute to the understanding of human-reptile interactions and inform conservation strategies that respect cultural significance. Some of the recommendations made includes: Integrate cultural conservation into biodiversity protection efforts, promote education and awareness on the importance of conservation, support community-led conservation initiatives, investigate the impact of cultural beliefs on species conservation.
| Published in | Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (Volume 9, Issue 4) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.eeb.20240904.11 |
| Page(s) | 91-97 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Sacred, Veranus Niloticus, Cultural Significance, Traditional Conservation and Orogun Community
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APA Style
Ogorode, I. O., Vincent-Akpu, I. F., Babatunde, B. B. (2024). The Sacred Veranus niloticus in Orogun Community, Delta State, Nigeria. Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, 9(4), 91-97. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20240904.11
ACS Style
Ogorode, I. O.; Vincent-Akpu, I. F.; Babatunde, B. B. The Sacred Veranus niloticus in Orogun Community, Delta State, Nigeria. Ecol. Evol. Biol. 2024, 9(4), 91-97. doi: 10.11648/j.eeb.20240904.11
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Download@article{10.11648/j.eeb.20240904.11,
author = {Israel Omoghene Ogorode and Ijeoma Favour Vincent-Akpu and Bolaji Benard Babatunde},
title = {The Sacred Veranus niloticus in Orogun Community, Delta State, Nigeria
},
journal = {Ecology and Evolutionary Biology},
volume = {9},
number = {4},
pages = {91-97},
doi = {10.11648/j.eeb.20240904.11},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20240904.11},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.eeb.20240904.11},
abstract = {This study investigates the cultural significance of the Nile Monitor Lizard (Veranus niloticus) in Orogun community, Delta State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods approach was employed, using questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) to gather data. The questionnaire were administered to 200 adults from the total population of the people in the community. Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis to determine significant associations. The results show that the presence of the Nile Monitor Lizard in Orogun community is not significant (χ2 = 2.418, p > 0.05) based on questionnaire responses. However, observations and KIIs confirmed the species' presence and cultural importance. The abundance of the Nile Monitor Lizard was significant (χ2 = 6.520, p 0.05), with minimal disturbance. Conservation efforts are lacking (χ2 = 6.520, p < 0.05), with more respondents indicating a lack of support. Contrary to expectations, the Nile Monitor Lizard is not commonly used as a source of food and medicine (χ2 = 25.240, p < 0.001). The study highlights the importance of cultural conservation and traditional belief systems in protecting umbrella species like the Nile Monitor Lizard. The findings contribute to the understanding of human-reptile interactions and inform conservation strategies that respect cultural significance. Some of the recommendations made includes: Integrate cultural conservation into biodiversity protection efforts, promote education and awareness on the importance of conservation, support community-led conservation initiatives, investigate the impact of cultural beliefs on species conservation.
},
year = {2024}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - The Sacred Veranus niloticus in Orogun Community, Delta State, Nigeria AU - Israel Omoghene Ogorode AU - Ijeoma Favour Vincent-Akpu AU - Bolaji Benard Babatunde Y1 - 2024/11/18 PY - 2024 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20240904.11 DO - 10.11648/j.eeb.20240904.11 T2 - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology JF - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology JO - Ecology and Evolutionary Biology SP - 91 EP - 97 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-3762 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.eeb.20240904.11 AB - This study investigates the cultural significance of the Nile Monitor Lizard (Veranus niloticus) in Orogun community, Delta State, Nigeria. A mixed-methods approach was employed, using questionnaires and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) to gather data. The questionnaire were administered to 200 adults from the total population of the people in the community. Chi-square tests were used for statistical analysis to determine significant associations. The results show that the presence of the Nile Monitor Lizard in Orogun community is not significant (χ2 = 2.418, p > 0.05) based on questionnaire responses. However, observations and KIIs confirmed the species' presence and cultural importance. The abundance of the Nile Monitor Lizard was significant (χ2 = 6.520, p 0.05), with minimal disturbance. Conservation efforts are lacking (χ2 = 6.520, p < 0.05), with more respondents indicating a lack of support. Contrary to expectations, the Nile Monitor Lizard is not commonly used as a source of food and medicine (χ2 = 25.240, p < 0.001). The study highlights the importance of cultural conservation and traditional belief systems in protecting umbrella species like the Nile Monitor Lizard. The findings contribute to the understanding of human-reptile interactions and inform conservation strategies that respect cultural significance. Some of the recommendations made includes: Integrate cultural conservation into biodiversity protection efforts, promote education and awareness on the importance of conservation, support community-led conservation initiatives, investigate the impact of cultural beliefs on species conservation. VL - 9 IS - 4 ER -
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
