Human wildlife interaction.
Understanding the needs of wildlife and the realities of the communities that live alongside them
Sustainable conservation requires understanding human behavior, not just wildlife behavior. In several local communities in the southern parts of Nigeria, bats and other small mammals are hunted for food, income, and as part of cultural practice. The degree to which hunting drives population decline, and the most effective interventions to address it, depend on data that does not yet exist at scale for this region.
Protein Quantification: Understanding Hunting in AMWS
Our Protein Quantification Survey, launched in 2024, is designed to measure the scale of wildlife hunting across communities surrounding Afi Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary. By documenting what wildlife is hunted, in what quantities, by whom, and through which supply chains, we build an evidence base for targeted, community-appropriate conservation responses.
Bat Hunting Among Children & Youth
As part of the Safe Humans, Safe Bats (SHSB) initiative, we conducted a survey to understand bat hunting among children in communities near known roost sites, examining prevalence, motivations, and how risk perceptions around bats influence hunting behavior. Early engagement with younger community members is essential for long-term behavioral change.
Persecution & Perception Around Bat Roosts
Bats roosting in urban or peri-urban environments are often perceived as pests or threats. Understanding community perceptions around bat roosts, particularly for the Straw-colored Fruit Bat, which forms large visible colonies, informs education and outreach strategy.
Data-Informed Actions
​The findings from these surveys directly inform our Cave Protection programme, the Alternative Protein Project, and our community outreach strategy. The goal is to understand the system well enough to offer meaningful, lasting alternatives.