Indigenous People Rituals and Conservation of Threatened Bird Species Among Ethnic Groups, in Cross River State, Nigeria

This study examined the relationship between indigenous people rituals and conservation of threatened bird species among ethnic groups in Cross River State, Nigeria. To achieve the purpose of this study a null hypothesis was generated to direct the study. Literature review was done according to the variables under study. Correlational research design was adopted for the study. A sample of 731 respondents was randomly selected for the study. The selection was done through multistage sampling procedures. The questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and Regression analysis were the statistical analysis techniques adopted to test the hypothesis under study. The hypothesis was subjected to testing at .05 level of significance with relative degrees of freedom. The results of the analysis revealed that, indigenous people rituals significantly predict conservation of threatened bird species among ethnic groups in Cross River State. The result further showed that Men are responsible for performing bird-related rituals. Interestingly, the result evidence that Hooded Vultures are not hunted for mystical purposes by indigenous people in the study areas, however showed that Yellow-casqued Hornbill and African Grey Parrot hunted for their body parts for rituals purposes, traditional medicine, and magical power. Based on the findings of the study it was recommended among others that conservation education programmes should integrate rituals into awareness programmes in schools as efforts to enhance the involvement of the younger generation in key conservation activities. This could be achieved by adopting storytelling and involving traditional knowledge holders in documenting folklore.