Culture and the illegal trade in vultures in southwestern Nigeria: Conundrums and recommendations

The illegal wildlife trade problem is worldwide in scope, affecting biodiversity conservation and human wellbeing. However, the trade has cultural dimensions. In addition to economic gain, cultural influences drive the illegal wildlife trade. This paper examines the cultural drivers of illegal trade in vultures in southwestern Nigeria, a pressing but understudied example which is believed to be a major driver of population declines in West Africa. Semi-structured interviews revealed that Yoruba communities in southwestern Nigeria have practiced belief-based use of wildlife for generations, with participation in vulture trade passed vertically within families and horizontally between unrelated persons. Vulture products are used for a range of purposes, from healing to spiritual protection or good fortune. The cultural beliefs underlying use of vultures have a strong syncretic religious component and evolved from primordial myths based on the behavioural and morphological characteristics of vultures. We propose potential interventions that include re-establishing existing social norms that forbid the killing of vultures and engaging religious leaders to discourage trade.