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Vulture and raptor populations have declined across West Africa during recent decades due to numerous and widespread anthropogenic threats. To estimate encounter rates of vultures and raptors in northern Nigeria, we conducted a total of 248 km driven transects on 195 km and 53 km of paved and unpaved roads, respectively. We also conducted walked surveys beneath 79 km of power transmission lines to search for dead vultures and raptors; and visited 12 abattoirs, 11 slaughterhouses, and 12 dumpsites to assess the occurrence of vultures and raptors. All fieldwork was done between October and December 2018. Overall, 357 individuals of 23 species were detected, most of which were recorded at low encounter rates. Only one Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus was recorded across all surveys, and no other vulture species were seen. Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius, Grasshopper Buzzard Butastur rufipennis, and Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus had the highest encounter rates of 0.351, 0.262, and 0.189 individuals km-1, respectively. In contrast, the largest raptor species, Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus, Short-toed Snake Eagle Circaetus gallicus, Beaudouin's Snake-eagle, and Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus had the lowest encounter rate of 0.004 individuals km-1 (one individual each). No dead vultures or raptors were found during the walked surveys beneath power lines. Although historical data about vulture and raptor distribution and abundance in northern Nigeria are limited, our results show an apparent absence of vultures from the wider landscape and a low density of raptors. Support among local stakeholders for the conservation of vultures and raptors should be encouraged through wider dissemination of information about the importance of these birds, as well as stronger deterrents again illegal killing and trade.

This study entails the production of bioethanol from the peels of sweet potato of white cultivar variety obtained in Zaria, Kaduna State Nigeria. Fresh cultivar with the proximate composition of 72% moisture content, 9.71% ash content, 24.52% crude fiber, 78.74% total carbohydrate and crude protein of 6.42% were hydrolyzed with 3% sulphuric acid solution at 130oC and 60 minutes in an improvised reactor to generate 54.5ml of hydrolyzate after steam pretreatment step. The fermentable reducing sugar of 10.68% was achieved through glucose standardization with UV-spectrophotometer at 540nm wavelength. The fermentation of the hydrolyzate –yeast/media mixture (155ml) at 30oC for 72hours was achieved by commercial grade saccharomyces cerevisiae to yield 20.5g/54.5ml, which corresponds to 0.8198g/ml specific gravity and 93.6% ethanol concentration. The molecular sieve was eventually adopted in dehydrating the bioethanol to 99.9% (0.8072g/ml) concentration and the final yield of 1.61% per 50g of w. cultivar. FTIR spectrum that declares the ethanolic identity with the stretching vibrations of O-H, C-O and C-H at 3391, 1055 and 2981cm-1 respectively with the symmetric stretching vibration of the methyl groups at 2930cm-1.

Camels are regarded as the ship of the desert, being used for transporting humans and their goods. They are also raised for milk, meat, hides and wool. Normal haematological values are important as disease diagnostic aid as they are vital indicator of the animals’ health status. Haematological parameters of one- humped camels (Camelusdromedarius) were determined in this study. 60 one- humped camels (Camelusdromedarius) were selected in sokoto and their blood samples were analyze using standard procedures for haematological parameters. [Packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC), haemoglobin (Hb),white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils, eosinophils, Basophils, monocyte, lymphocyte, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH), and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC)].For all the parameters, only neutrophils and MCV values showed significant variation between sexes with male camels having higher values than females. There is variation in the range values for all the parameters between sexes except Basophils, Monocyte and Lymphocyte. Based on the results of this study, the values were similar in both sex except in neutrophils and mean corpuscular volume indicating insignificant effect of sex on most of the haematological parameters.

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Epilepsy is one of the world’s oldest recognized conditions. Fear, discrimination and social stigma have surrounded epilepsy for centuries. Various drug treatments available are not readily accessible, affordable and may have associated side effects. This research focuses on the anticonvulsant and sedative effects of ethanol whole plant extract of Viscum album L in mice commonly used in herbal medicine to treat insomnia and convulsion. The fresh whole plant extract of Viscum album collected was air-dried for one week in the herbarium away from sunlight, and then grounded into powder form using a clean pestle and mortar. About 300 g of the powdered sample were extracted using 95% ethanol. Phytochemical screening and acute toxicity study was carried out using standard method. The extract was evaluated for anticonvulsant activity in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) induced convulsion and sedative effect in pentobarbital induced sleeping time in mice. The phytochemical screening of the plant extract of Viscum album revealed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, glycosides, flavonoids, saponins, triterpenes and tannins. However, Dragendorffʼs test for alkaloid gave a negative result. The LD 50 obtained was greater than 2900mg/kg intraperitoneally in mice. The plant extract of Viscum album produced a dose dependent inhibition of PTZ induced convulsion and death. The extract significantly (p