Africa problems: Bushmeat & hunting

Consumption across the Congo Basin may exceed 1 million metric tonnes per year

In some areas, particularly Central and Western Africa the bushmeat trade has had a significant impact on biodiversity and is endangering many forest-dwelling mammals. Unsustainable hunting, both commercial and subsistence, remains a major threat to the survival of many birds and mammals.

Bushmeat contributes to between 30-80% of the protein consumed by forest-dwelling families in the Congo Basin. Duikers - small forest antelopes - pigs, primates and rodents are the most commonly hunted groups of animals in the forest, with duikers both numerically (more than 75% of the bushmeat catch) being the most important bushmeat species group.

Large-bodied mammals such as gorillas and elephants, which occur at low population densities, are particularly susceptible to extinction through hunting for bushmeat.

The only way forward
WWF believes that illegal hunting in protected areas and hunting of endangered species such as apes (on both health grounds and conservation grounds) must be stopped. At the same time sustainable use by local communities of non-threatened species should be allowed.

This joint conservation approach of protection and sustainable use should be considered within a wider landscape planning context, allowing controlled use of less vulnerable species in zones outside protected areas (e.g., buffer zones, extractive reserves, community hunting reserves).