Biodiversity conservation in inhabited area; what can helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris: Numididae) domestication offer in socio-economic development and wildlife conservation

Abstract

The world has been experiencing growing pressure on biodiversity resources by destruction, overexploitation, development and climate change. There is a need for alternatives of conserving wildlife
species in inhabited area. Domestication of Helmeted Guinea fowl (HG) in Tanita-Kibaha Municipal,
Tanzania is seen as both way of conserving biological resources in inhabited areas and socio-economic
development of the community. This study aimed at determining the potential of HG for domestication over
other domestic birds (chicken, ducks). Also the attitude of HG’s keepers was evaluated. The body size was
determined by measuring height and length of birds and tested using Mann-Whitney U test statistic. While
attitude on HG was determined using Likert’s scaling and tested using Kruskal-Wallis Test Statistic. The
growth rate was significantly higher in HG than chicken. The attitude was significant positive for HG when
compared with chicken and ducks. However few HG are kept due to newness of the business, lack of
knowledge and support. It was advised on provision of education to the community. The government and
other stakeholders were recommended to support the venture as it has potentials in domestic and
commercial purposes.