BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HADEJIA WETLAND GAME RESERVE, JIGAWA STATE.
INTRODUCTION OF THE GAME RESERVE
Baturiya Birds sanctuary, sometimes referred to broadly as Hadejia Wetland game reserve is a natural wetlands, located within the Sudan Sahelian region. Its stretches in a general west to east direction of Hadejia River Valley touching portion of three Local Government Areas Auyo, Kirikasamma and Guri Local Government areas in Jigawa State.The reserve was taken as Parts of Birds area of Hadejia/Nguru wetland and also as wetland of international importance (RAMSAR) 20 recently it was proposed to upgrade to a state of a national park by Nigerian national parks service (NPS).
The area of the reserve includes; the buffer zone is about 350km2 reserve support great variety of wildlife resources particulariy water game birds that are of both migratory and resident origins especially for resting activities.
HISTORY OF THE GAME RESERVE
The game reserve derived its name from the neighboring community of meaning a lady from Europe or white lady this was originated some centuary back when Baturiya community was not established, the area was just a variety of wildlife resources and Europeans used to visit and camp at. History have indicated that in early 70's the bush around Baturiya terms of variety of wildlife species and there were a lot of pond and were rich in terms of fish, crocodiles, monitor lizard and others aquatic animals.
for this purpose the then emir of Hadejia decided to organize a festival, where fishing and swimming competitions were performed and take place during the period of a festival, the then governor of defunct Kano state (Alhaji Audu Bako) was at the occasion and he became fascinated and attracted with the biodiversity resources of the area.
For this in 1975 he directed the forestry department, to establish the game reserve in the area. The first survey of the area was carried out in the same year 1975 are surveyed in 1980 and officially gathered as a game reserve in 1985, becoming of game reserve to ascertain the boundary was carried out in the year, 2008, 2011, 2013 and 2016.
PHYSICAL CONDITIONS REGARDS TO FLORA AND FAUNA OF THE GAME RESERVE
Hadejia wetlands game reserve embodies diverse of flora and fauna both of the sahel and sudan savannah type that comprises predominantly of the following species..
Acacia nilotica Gabaruwa, Acacia sayel dusa, tamarindus indica tsamiya, mitrigyna inermis Giyayya, Diospyros mespilifornmis Kanya, hypaenia thebaica Goruba, Balanites egyptiaca Aduwa, Acacia albilda Gawo, Acacia seiberiania fararkaya/Bauji, Azadirachta indica Maina/darbejiya, Vitex doniana Dinya, Parkia Biglobosa Dorawa, Zizaphus Maturiania Magarya, Anogesus Leacarpus Marke, Piliostigma reticulatum Kargo, Prosopis Africana Kirya, Acacia Senegal Kayar dakwara, Acacia gurmensis Kama mu raba sterculia stangera Kukkuki, Afzelia Africana Kawo, Afzelia Chavaleri Katsari, Adonsinia Digitata Kuka, Annona Senegalensis Gwandar Daji, Ficus Cycamorus Baure, Gardenia Aqualle Katambiri/Gaude, Khaya Senegalensis Madachi, Mangifera Indica Mango, Sieberiana Runfu, Ficus Eteolphylla Shirinya, Ficus Thonningi Cediya, gulera Senegalensis Sabara, Stereospermum Kunthiamum Samsami, Acacia Tazancantha Sarkakiya, Borassus Aethiopum Giginya, Calotropis Procera Tunfafiya, Bauhinia Rufescana Matsagi/Matsantsagi, Ceiba Pentandra Rimi, Celtis Intergrifolla Zuwo/Dukki Pterocarpus Erinaceus Kattakara/Madobiya Terminelia Evicennioidea Baushe/Kwandari, Ficus Platyphylla Ganji.
The physiognomy of the vegetation within the game reserve also varies, with regards to wild life animals that are commonly spotted in the area includes; redpatas monkey, Baboon spotted Hyena Grims duiker, wathog common Jackal and many species of snakes including rockpython among others.
The abundance of the variety of birth such as game birds and waters birds species with high population which are commonly sighted in the game reserve and includes; GAME BIRDS…..
