International Journal of Environmental and Ecology Research

authors
Yager G O, David E D, Mbakuuv N B

abstract
Knowledge of wildlife related matters have been applied over time to access the level of people approach to wildlife conservation and management. The study focused on the level of awareness of public secondary school students on wildlife conservation and ecotourism education and their willingness to support conservation. Twenty-one public schools were enlisted (6 situated at North bank and 13 at South bank). Nine (9) and four (4) schools were selected at South and North bank using 60% sampling intensity through balloting. The total sampling size was four hundred and sixty-eight (468) respondents. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Five-point Likert rating scale was used to determine respondent’s perception about wildlife conservation and ecotourism management. Socio-economic characteristics of respondents showed that most (56.4%; 66.5%) were females within the ages below 15 years. The common professions of parents of the respondents were Civil servants (41.0%) and farmers (30.03%). The study revealed that most (29.7% and 75%) of the students have knowledge of the definition of wildlife and ecotourism. The source of information on wildlife and ecotourism related issues was mostly from cable network (30.6%), Facebook (21.6%) and parents/friends (20.5%). Similarly, 42.9% of the students disagree to the view that wild animals cannot be exhausted and strongly agreed (43.6%) that ecotourism promote human non-consumptive utilization of wildlife. Majority (91.2%) of the students have never participated in conservation and ecotourism programmes before. Though, willing to participate. Also 77.8% opted that wildlife is taught in their school but under other subjects. Most (43.6% and 55.7%) were not interested in wildlife club because opportunity have not been given and that wildlife is seeing dangerous. We encourage continuous conservation education programmes and practical approach towards wildlife related matters.