Ecology of Thryonomys swinderianus In Ogoni Land

Abstract

The knowledge of the existence of Thryonomys swinderianus in Ogoni Land is not entirely exclusive, but not much is known of its ecology. The feeding and population ecology of Thryonomys swinderianus in Ogoni land was investigated in this research. The feed type, length of feeding bout and feeding rate was the scope of the feeding ecology. Annual hunt data was used to estimate its population; the annum being July 2017 to June 2018. Feed presented in captivity and inference from crops raided on in farms was the source of feed type. For feeding rate and length of feeding bout, direct observation in captivity was the method used. Thryonomys swinderianus is an herbivore feeding on plant species like elephant grass, cane sugar, pawpaw, banana, guava, African native pear, cassava (stem & tuber), plantain, maize, yam, cocoyam, potato, watermelon, three leaf yam, soursop, melon, pumpkin and non-plant feed like fowl feed (finishers) and bread. The volume of feed Thryonomys swinderianus consume within 30 minutes is 103.5 +/- 11.4 grams, feeds twice a day in captivity spending 97 +/- 6 minutes to eat to full. It is a selective feeder in the wild both of plant species and part eaten, having a higher feed type range in captivity than in the wild. Its population before harvest commenced in July 2017 was six thousand and twenty. Its feeding activities on cultivated crops causes sever economic damage to farmers and set a conflict between itself and humans.

Keywords: Thryonomys swinderianus, population abundance; length of feeding bout; feeding rate; feed type.

DOI: 10.7176/JSTR/5-4-10