ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Conserv. Sci.

Sec. Conservation Social Sciences

Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcosc.2025.1551597

This article is part of the Research TopicAdvancing the Science of Environmental Justice in the International Wildlife TradeView all 11 articles

Utilization of Fauna Resources for Therapeutic Purposes as a Barrier to Species Justice Advocacy in Nigeria

Provisionally accepted
Taiwo Kabiru AdebowaleTaiwo Kabiru Adebowale1Opemipo Alaba IjoseOpemipo Alaba Ijose2*Bolade Bosede IbiyomiBolade Bosede Ibiyomi1Oluyinka O AkintundeOluyinka O Akintunde1Oladapo O OduntanOladapo O Oduntan1Osunsina IsraelOsunsina Israel1Aishah Adeola ShobowaleAishah Adeola Shobowale1
  • 1Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Abeokuta, Ogun, Nigeria
  • 2Auburn University, Auburn, United States

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Efforts to reduce the irrational exploitation of wildlife, aimed at achieving species justice, continue to be challenged by the persistent demand for animal parts and derivatives in formulating alternative medicines in certain regions of Nigeria. This study focuses on the Kuto, Iberekodo, Itoku, and Lafenwa markets in Ogun State, known for the many traditional medical practitioners relying on these markets for alternative remedies. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire distributed randomly to 165 traditional medicinal vendors. The survey identified 49 animal species of conservation concern, categorized as follows: 2 molluscs, 2 amphibians, 2 insects, 5 fish, 8 reptiles, 9 birds, and 21 mammals. Various animal parts are traded for spiritual empowerment and disease treatment in these markets. This trade negatively impacts conservation efforts and undermines the collective endeavors of all stakeholders to promote species justice in Nigeria.

Keywords: traditional medicine, illegal wildlife trade, species justice, Wet market, biodiversity conservation

Received: 26 Dec 2024; Accepted: 16 Apr 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Adebowale, Ijose, Ibiyomi, Akintunde, Oduntan, Israel and Shobowale. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Opemipo Alaba Ijose, Auburn University, Auburn, United States

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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