PERCEIVED EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WILDLIFE SPECIES: A CASE STUDY OF SOKOTO METROPOLIS

This study assessed the perceived effects of climate change on wildlife species in Sokoto metropolis, Northwestern Nigeria. A total of 100 respondents were surveyed using semi structured questionnaires, and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Likert scale and regression analysis. Results revealed that the respondents were predominantly male (58%), married (56%), and engaged in occupations closely tied to natural resources such as farming (33%) and business (23%). Educational attainment was relatively high, with 40% completing secondary and 30% tertiary education. The main drivers of climate change as perceived by the respondents were deforestation (71%), overgrazing (65%), and bush burning (58%), while fossil fuel use (42%) and industrial pollution (25%) were less frequently mentioned. Awareness of climate change was widespread, with 87% of respondents indicating awareness and perceiving moderate (44%) to high (41%) impacts on ecosystem services. Fish (36%) and bird (24%) species were identified as most at risk, human activities are the main drivers of climate change, with a mean value of 4.1(ranked first) majority (mean = 4.2) agreed that climate change significantly increases extinction risk of wildlife species. while 57% (30% disagree and 27% strongly disagree) rejected fatalistic views that climate change is beyond human control. Regression analysis showed that education (β = 0.212, p = 0.001) and occupation (β = -0.183, p = 0.013) significantly influenced perception of climate change, whereas age (β = 0.004, p = 0.505), sex (β = -0.062, p = 0.460), and years of experience (β = 0.008, p = 0.259) were not significant predictors (R² = 0.27; Adjusted R² = 0.23). The study concludes that climate change is widely recognized as a pressing environmental challenge in Sokoto metropolis, with strong acknowledgment of its impacts on wildlife species and ecosystems. It recommends strengthening environmental education, promoting sustainable land-use practices, enhancing wildlife conservation, and improving institutional support for climate governance.