Hunting in a community of waste pickers of recyclable materials in Rondônia, Brazil

Abstract

Hunting is an activity linked to the evolution of humans as a species. Hunting is the main source of protein for the Amazonian caboclo that guarantees the survival and subsistence of their population. Although there are several studies focusing on hunting in the Amazon, little is known about hunting in peri-urban regions. This work aimed to analyze the profile of hunters from the community of Vila Princesa, Porto Velho, Rondônia, which is located at km 10 of the BR-364 highway towards Rio Branco (AC). Data were collected by interviewing fourteen hunters through semi-structured questionnaires. Hunting was found to be a predominantly masculine activity, carried out for subsistence and taste, as well as for sport and trade. 19 game species were recorded, including mammals, birds and reptiles, with mammals being the most exploited group. The species of highest preference were Cuniculus paca, Tayassu pecari and Mazama americana, because of their palatability. In this study, it was also observed that animal by-products were used for medicinal purposes. The interviewees highlighted five hunting strategies: waiting game in fruit tree, waiting with barley, persistence hunting with canoe, persistence hunting with dog, and persistence hunting on foot; waiting game in fruit tree was the strategy with the highest number of records among the hunters of the community.