Bushmeat Consumption Research Articles

Heavy metals in Bushmeat from New-Bussa and its environs, Nigeria

Bushmeat have provided complimentary protein for human population across the world over the centuries. This study assessed the concentration of heavy metals in bushmeats in New Bussa and its environs. Three carcass of bush meat (Kobus kob (Kob), Tragelaphus scriptus (Bushbuck) and Sylvicapra grimmia (Duiker)) were sourced from the study area. The carcass was digested and concentrations of nine heavy metals (Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Co and Cd) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Results obtained for the heavy metal analysis were subjected to one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) while Pearson’s correlation was used to determine the relationship in the samples. The heavy metal concentration in muscle tissues of the selected bushmeat revealed that zinc with 815.00±13.00 mg/kg in Kob was the highest mean value of all meat samples, followed by Iron (479.00±10.00 mg/kg) in Duiker while Pb level in Bushbuck 213.00±3.00 mg/kg is outrageously the highest. Copper, Chromium and Nickel did not exceed the permissible limits as set by FEPA/WHO. The concentration pattern of heavy metals in bush meat show that Sylvicapra grimmia and Tragelaphus scriptus had the same pattern of Zn>Fe>Pb>Cr>Mn>Cu>Co>Ni>Cd concentration while Kobus kob pattern of association is Zn>Fe>Cr>Pb>Ni>Cu>Co>Cd>Mn. The comparative study of the heavy metal concentrations revealed that Zinc (Zn) recorded the highest frequency, followed by Iron (Fe) and Lead (Pb). This study has shown that high level of Pb in the samples from the study area is a matter of concern in bush meat consumption in the study area; hence people should be warned of impending danger in the consumption of heavy metals contaminated bush meat.
 Keywords: Bushmeat, heavy metals, concentration, toxicity, contaminated

Factors contributing to the consumption of bushmeat in Odeda Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria

This paper x-rays the factors that contribute to the consumption of bushmeat in Odeda Local Government Area (LGA) of Ogun State, Nigeria. Questionnaires were used in collecting primary data from four communities in the Local Government Area. Each community represents one of the four divisional districts recognized by the Odeda LGA headquarter for administrative functions. Fifty questionnaires were randomly administered in each of the four communities, making a total of 200 questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency table and pie chart, regression and chi Square. Gender was the only variable that significantly (p<0.10; r=0.54) contributed to the consumption of bushmeat in the study area. Chi square analysis revealed a relationship (p<0.99; X2=3.202) between sex of respondents and consumption of bushmeat in the study area.
 Keywords: Determinant factors, Consumption, Bushmeat, Odeda Local Government Area

Eating Bushmeat Improves Food Security in a Biodiversity and Infectious Disease "Hotspot".

Hunting and consumption of wild animals, colloquially known as "bushmeat," is associated with health trade-offs. Contact with wildlife increases exposure to wildlife-origin zoonotic diseases yet bushmeat is an important nutritional resource in many rural communities. In this study, we test the hypothesis that bushmeat improves food security in communities that hunt and trade bushmeat regularly. We conducted 478 interviews with men and women in six communities near Cross River National Park in Nigeria. We used interview responses to relate prevalence and diversity of bushmeat consumption to household food security status. Animal-based foods were the most commonly obtained items from the forest, and 48 types of wild vertebrate animals were consumed within the past 30days. Seventy-five percent of households experienced some degree of food insecurity related to food access. Bushmeat consumption was significantly associated with relatively higher household food security status. Rodents were more important predictors of food security than other animal taxa. Despite increased bushmeat consumption in food-secure households, food-insecure households consumed a higher diversity of bushmeat species. Results show that consumption of bushmeat, especially rodents, is uniquely related to improved food security. Reliance on a wider diversity of species in food-insecure households may in turn affect their nutrition, exposures to reservoirs of zoonotic infections, and impact on wildlife conservation. Our results indicate that food security should be addressed in conservation and public health strategies aimed at reducing human-wildlife contact, and that improved wildlife protection, when combined with alternative animal-based foods, would positively affect food security in the long term.

Bushmeat hunting and consumption is a pervasive issue in African savannahs: insights from four protected areas in Malawi

The hunting and consumption of wild meat (bushmeat) is recognized as a key threat to the world’s biodiversity and there are indications this threat may extend to much of the African continent. However, this problem is understudied in African savannah systems—particularly in southern Africa. Due to its illicit nature, little research on the drivers behind hunting and consumption exists, especially using methods appropriate to the topic’s sensitivity. We explored the prevalence of hunting and consumption of wild meat in the low-income country of Malawi, by conducting 1562 interviews in communities neighbouring four different protected areas. We identified characteristics of households illegally hunting and consuming wild meat, using the unmatched count technique and socio-demographic variables in linear models. Consumption had a higher prevalence than hunting, reaching up to 39% of the population, while 4–19% of the population engaged in hunting. Consumption was more prevalent in poorer households, while hunting was more prevalent in wealthier households. Increased involvement in community projects initiated by protected areas did not always lead to reduced consumption or hunting, including at protected areas with substantial outside investment, indicating these projects need a clearer link to conservation outcomes. A preference for the taste of wild meat and for added diversity in diet were key drivers of consumption, whereas hunting was primarily motivated by the need for income. Our results highlight the disparity between drivers of hunting and consumption of wild meat and the pervasive nature of this threat, despite considerable investment into community projects and enforcement.

Exploitation of Pangolins (Pholidota, Mammalia) by Communities Living in and around the Tayna Nature Reserve (RNT) North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Pangolin exploitation has recently increased in diverse forms such as bushmeat consumption; species or parts trade, medical use. This species is protected in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and worldwide, unfortunately it is threatened by numerous human actions. The purpose of this study was to determine the profiles of actors using pangolins, the reasons for pangolin exploitation and its products and their use within the local community in and surrounding the reserve. We carried out surveys in the households of hunters, farmers and people practicing other professions in 12 villages, located within the Tayna Nature Reserve (RNT) and surroundings areas. Two interview techniques were used: the individual interview and the participatory diagnostic technique. During one month of data collection, 175 respondents were interviewed. Respondents had diverse profiles according to sex, age, education level and ethnicity. Men were more represented as actors in pangolin exploitation (71.70%) than women (28.30%); the most represented age interval was 20 - 30 years. The education level is distinct amongst respondents: illiterate (37%), primary school (32.4%) and graduate from university (2.9%). An average number of respondents are motivated to consume pangolin as meat obtained by hunting at 50%. The main reason for its consumption is preference (44%) and habit (33%). The scales are pangolin derivatives most recognized by local people and widely used in the pharmacopoeia. Consequently, pangolin protection needs some rigorous measures to reinforce the current law implementation.

Microbial Diversity in Bushmeat Samples Recovered from the Serengeti Ecosystem in Tanzania

Bushmeat, the meat and organs derived from wildlife species, is a common source of animal protein in the diets of those living in sub-Saharan Africa and is frequently associated with zoonotic spillover of dangerous pathogens. Given the frequent consumption of bushmeat in this region and the lack of knowledge about the microbial communities associated with this meat, the microbiome of 56 fresh and processed bushmeat samples ascertained from three districts in the Western Serengeti ecosystem in Tanzania was characterized using 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing. The results show that the most abundant phyla present in bushmeat samples include Firmicutes (67.8%), Proteobacteria (18.4%), Cyanobacteria (8.9%), and Bacteroidetes (3.1%). Regardless of wildlife species, sample condition, season, or region, the microbiome is diverse across all samples, with no significant difference in alpha or beta diversity. The findings also suggest the presence of DNA signatures of potentially dangerous zoonotic pathogens, including those from the genus Bacillus, Brucella, Coxiella, and others, in bushmeat. Together, this investigation provides a better understanding of the microbiome associated with this major food source in samples collected from the Western Serengeti in Tanzania and highlights a need for future investigations on the potential health risks associated with the harvesting, trade, and consumption of bushmeat in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A method for the evaluation of bushmeat as a livelihood for rural subsistence communities in Ecuador

In this paper, a holistic method is proposed to account for the indices of the relative abundance of game species and their relational value to human communities. The method allows for the consideration of economic, ecological, and cultural factors. Based on econometrics, three regression models are specified: 1) the total cost model, which is used to analyse the costs involved in hunting; 2) the private economic value model, which is used to assess hunting as an economic activity in terms of the hunter's private profit; 3) the social value model, which is used to estimate the net benefits accrued by society from the entire process of bushmeat consumption. This method provides not only empirical findings to show how bushmeat consumption contributes to enhance social welfare but also relevant information for public policy makers concerning the sustainable management of game species.

Health Risk Assessment for Human Exposure to Trace Metals Via Bushmeat in Ghana.

Consumption and trade in bushmeat are entrenched in sub-Saharan Africa amid growing land degradation and environmental pollution that raise safety concerns, yet sustainability of bushmeat extraction and zoonoses considerations have been the focus of bushmeat research. Here, we evaluated the health risk of trace metals in the skeletal muscle, bone, liver, and skin of the black duiker (Cephalophus niger), brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus), bushbuck (Tragelaphus scriptus), cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus), and Maxwell's duiker (Cephalophus maxwelli) being the five most hunted and consumed species of bushmeat in Ghana. Sample tissues of the five species were analyzed for Cu, Zn, Se, Cd, As, Pb, and Hg. Targeted hazard quotient (THQ) of Se for black duiker, bushback, and Maxwell's duiker as well as that of Pb for black duiker, Brush-tailed porcupine, and Maxwell's duiker were concerning (> 1) for individuals foraging daily on bushmeat. Thus, cane rat was the only species that recorded both estimated daily intake (EDI) and THQ of Se and Pb within safe limits for daily consumption. In respect of Cu, Zn, Cd, As, and Hg, EDI and THQ values indicated no perceived risk to consumers for all five species. Lifetime cancer risk (CR) of As was negligible for all species. At the rate of bushmeat consumption in sub-Saharan Africa (0.104kg per day), the cane rat was the only species considered safe for daily consumption among the five species.

Poverty not taste drives the consumption of protected species in Madagascar

Bushmeat consumption in Madagascar is increasingly acknowledged as one of the major threats to its wild vertebrates. Nevertheless, few studies have examined the drivers of the consumption of protected versus legally huntable wild species, or examined its variance across Madagascar’s protected and unprotected areas. This research provides a novel study of the consumption of protected, unprotected, and fish/eel species between forest types (deciduous and rainforest), as well as across a gradient of protected habitat (National Park, Reserve, Unprotected). Members of 1750 households were interviewed across four regions, including two national parks, two reserves, and two unprotected forests. Household demographic, socioeconomic, cultural, and geographic variables were explored as possible predictors of bushmeat consumption. We found that poorer households reported consuming greater quantities of protected species whereas wealthier households reported consuming greater quantities of fish and eel. Households located inside Andasibe-Mantadia National Park, Madagascar’s most visited protected area, reported consuming the greatest quantities of protected species. Interviewees’ most favoured meat was from livestock, and fish. The consumption pattern of wild species reflected interviewees’ stated preference for species that are either unlisted (e.g. tilapia fish) under Malagasy species protection laws, classified as pest (e.g. bushpig) and/or game species (e.g. tenrec). Most protected species (such as lemurs and carnivorans) were interviewees’ least favoured wild meats. Given the lack of cultural affinity, and low preference for the consumption of most protected species, our results suggest that improving accessibility to domestic meat is a promising strategy for reducing the consumption of protected species.

Wildlife forensics in voiding false offences: A case study to deal with unidentified cooked meat

Consumption of bush meat is one of the major threats to the loss of biodiversity in developing countries. The present study has been conducted in view of ascertaining the species of origin from fully cooked meat that was confiscated from a restaurant at Murshidabad district of West Bengal in India and suspected to be originated from a Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla). However, there was no intact morphological identity, and the owner of the restaurant was booked under the charges of Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 towards killing and selling the meat of a protected species. On sequencing of the partial fragments of mt genes – Cytochrome b and 12S rRNA, the confiscated material showed 99% homology with Common quail (Coturnix coturnix), and the phylogenetic analysis also clustered the confiscated material with Common quail with high bootstrap support. This study exhibits a reliable assessment of species identification using the public database and provides evidence to nullify charges on the accused for his involvement in wildlife killing. This case study exhibits the value of molecular diagnostic techniques using genetic markers to decipher the morphologically altered materials in wildlife forensic cases.

Does Productivity in the Formal Food Sector Drive Human Ebola Virus Infections in Sub‐Saharan Africa?

AbstractAs the hunting, butchering, processing, and consumption of bushmeat is a potential source of human Ebola virus (EV) infections, the extent to which bushmeat is a substitute for food produced and sold in the formal sector suggests that the relative price of food could matter for the incidence of human EV infections. This paper considers if productivity in the food sector is a driver of human EV infections in sub‐Saharan Africa. We estimate count data specifications of country level human EV infections as a function of food sector productivity in sub‐Saharan Africa over the 1976–2013 time period. Our parameter estimates suggest that if productivity in the food sector was on average 1 per cent higher over the 1976–2013 time period, the incidence of human EV infection would have been 42.5 per cent lower. This is consistent with bushmeat being a substitute for food produced in the formal sector, as food productivity increases lower the price of formal food relative to bushmeat. Our findings suggest that as productivity in the formal food sector is a driver of human EV infections in sub‐Saharan Africa, policy interventions that increase food productivity would enable Millennium Development Goal outcomes related to hunger, disease mitigation, and sustainability of wildlife.

Schoolchildren as informants about bushmeat consumption in Western Serengeti, Tanzania

Bushmeat contributes to household food security in Western Serengeti, particularly for low-income families who are unable to afford more expensive meat sources. However, as the human population grows, bushmeat demand is increasingly unsustainable. Formulating effective policies to reduce illegal bushmeat hunting in Serengeti National Park (SNP), requires information about the contribution of bushmeat to household meat protein consumption as it varies along a gradient of distance from protected areas and between seasons, which can be difficult to obtain from adults due to the illegal nature of hunting. Data on bushmeat consumption frequencies were collected from 127 class four pupils and compared to that of 150 adults. Data were obtained through interviews conducted in both the dry and wet seasons in October 2017 and April 2018, respectively, in three villages selected based on distance from the boundary of SNP (near, intermediate and far away). Mean reported bushmeat consumption frequencies by both schoolchildren and adults differed significantly between villages declining with distance from SNP. Bushmeat consumption frequencies reported by both groups were significantly higher during the dry season (66%) compared to the wet season (34%). Adults on average reported significantly lower bushmeat consumption frequencies than schoolchildren in both seasons. The results suggest that children are less constrained by the illegal nature of bushmeat hunting and therefore may provide more accurate information about the importance of bushmeat in household consumption than adults. Results also reveal that bushmeat contributes considerably to household meat consumption in villages close to the SNP but not further away. This study provides valuable insights for targeting policies to reduce illegal bushmeat hunting, including through promoting substitute protein sources. Key words: Consumption frequency, spatial and temporal variations, meat types.

Bushmeat, human impacts and human health in tropical rainforests: The Ebola virus case

At a time when more than 5 million tonnes of bushmeat are harvested annually from tropical forests, and which account for a significant, but unrecorded, share of the gross domestic product of many forest countries, decision makers are encouraged, within conservation and food security policies, to understand the role that wildlife can play in the conservation of ecosystem services. In this article, we present an analysis of the problem, describing the role played by bushmeat in human diets, and the health risks linked to the consumption of bushmeat, in particular with regard to Ebola disease, to provide insights on the direction of possible strategies to manage the use of wildlife for meeting the needs of local populations and reducing risks to human health.

Consumption of Bushmeat in Lubumbashi/DR Congo: Sociocultural Approaches

Consumption of Bushmeat in Lubumbashi/DR Congo: Sociocultural Approaches

Toward a quantification of risks at the nexus of conservation and health: The case of bushmeat markets in Lao PDR

Trade of bushmeat and other wildlife for human consumption presents a unique set of challenges to policy-makers who are confronted with multiple trade-offs between conservation, food security, food safety, culture and tradition. In the face of these complex issues, risk assessments supported by quantitative information would facilitate evidence-based decision making.We propose a conceptual model for disease transmission risk analysis, inclusive of these multiple other facets. To quantify several processes included in this conceptual model we conducted questionnaire surveys with wildlife consumers and vendors in semi-urban centers in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR, Laos) and direct observations of consumer behaviors. Direct observation of market stalls indicated an estimated average of 10 kg bushmeat biomass per stall per hour. The socio-demographic data suggested that consumption of bushmeat in urban areas was not for subsistence but rather driven by dietary preference and tradition. Consumer behavioral observations indicated that each animal receives an average of 7 contacts per hour. We provide other key parameters to estimate the risk of disease transmission from bushmeat consumption and illustrate their use in assessing the total public health and socio-economic impact of bushmeat consumption.Pursuing integrative approaches to the study of bushmeat consumption is essential to develop effective and balanced policies that support conservation, public health, and rural development goals.

Understanding the Sociocultural Drivers of Urban Bushmeat Consumption for Behavior Change Interventions in Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo

Interventions targeting consumer behavior may help to reduce demand for bushmeat in urban areas. Understanding the drivers of urban bushmeat consumption is crucial to guide such interventions; however the cultural and socio-psychological factors driving consumer behavior remain understudied. Through qualitative interviews with urban bushmeat consumers in Pointe Noire, Republic of Congo, we investigated perceptions of bushmeat and other animal proteins, and social norms regulating urban demand for bushmeat. The perception of bushmeat as natural, tasty and healthy, and a rare luxury product functioning as a symbol of social status, underpins social norms to provide bushmeat. The main barriers to purchasing were cost and availability. Locally produced fish, meat, and poultry were positively perceived as organic and healthy, whereas frozen imported animal proteins were perceived negatively as transformed, of poor quality and taste, and unhealthy. Our findings provide an initial baseline understanding of social-psychological drivers shaping consumption that can inform the design of bushmeat demand reduction campaigns.

Bushmeat use is widespread but under-researched in rural communities of South Africa

Bushmeat hunting and consumption is common throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Yet, a recent review indicated that the prevalence and nature of bushmeat hunting was little researched or understood in southern African savannas. Here we present information from a number of rural livelihoods studies in South Africa that indicate that bushmeat consumption is common, with typically between 30 and 60% of rural households in the communal tenure regions stating that they consume it. Yet there are only five studies in the country explicitly investigating bushmeat hunting practices, motivations, offtake and target species. A review of the five studies indicates that bushmeat hunting is largely a male activity and that motivations and practices vary between sites. Hunting with dogs is the most common method, targeting multiple small and medium-sized species. With such widespread consumption, it is possible that bushmeat hunting may have significant effects on the population status of some target species and consequently requires urgent and in-depth research of both practices and effects.

Ethnozoology of bushmeat

In the Congo Basin, food is an everyday concern and its acquisition and transformation often structure many of the activities of a human group. While agriculture provides the main source of calories, meat of wild animals, commonly referred to as bushmeat, represents the main source of protein for local people in the region and plays an important role in terms of dietary diversity and health. However, the increase of bushmeat consumption in towns and more efficient hunting practices have pushed the harvest of wild animals to unsustainable levels, generating a “bushmeat crisis”. The growing demand for bushmeat has created strong pressures and a lure of profit pushing the hunters of southern Cameroon to sell (illegally) their harvest. A dynamic that might affect both local diets and the modalities of relations between humans and animals. Therefore, this paper aims to describe the importance of wild meat for the Baka, an ethnolinguistic group of Southeastern Cameroun, traditionally hunter-gatherers. It analyses the place of the animal in the Baka daily life through its contribution in dietary, symbolic and economic terms. The paper combines a qualitative ethnography with individual-level data on food diversity intake and meat selling, and describes different aspects related to meat sharing and consumption.

Bushmeat consumption in large urban centres in West Africa

AbstractThere is an unprecedented demand for bushmeat in large cities in sub-Saharan Africa, and this is a major threat to many species. We conducted 2,040 interviews in six cities in four West African countries, in forest and savannah settings. We analysed age- and sex-related differences in the frequency of bushmeat consumption. Overall, we found similar patterns in all cities: 62.2% of men and 72.1% of women said they would never eat bushmeat, whereas 12.8% of men and 8.8% of women said they liked bushmeat and ate it regularly. Younger generations of both sexes tended not to eat bushmeat, regardless of their city of origin. This study of the effects of age, gender and geographical location on bushmeat consumption in African cities provides insights regarding which population groups to target in campaigns to change behaviours.

Connecting research, management, education and policy for the conservation of armadillos in the Orinoco Llanos of Colombia

AbstractSuccessful conservation actions require strategies that combine research, policy formulation and enforcement, practical interventions and education. Here we review the Armadillo Conservation Programme, which was initiated in 2012 as a pioneering multidisciplinary programme for the conservation and management of five armadillo species in the Orinoco Llanos of Colombia. It is led by a multi-institutional alliance that ensures active participation of stakeholders during all stages of the programme. Six main threats affecting armadillo populations in the Llanos were identified, and these were addressed in the first joint action plan of two Colombian environmental authorities. Scientific research facilitated an increase in the knowledge available about the armadillos of the Llanos, and the recategorization of the northern long-nosed armadilloDasypus sabanicolaon the IUCN Red List. Threat evaluation and mitigation included the assessment of illegal bushmeat trade and consumption in local restaurants and the establishment of a certification label for restaurants that do not sell wild meat. Multiple strategies were used to raise awareness about armadillos and position them as flagship species for the Llanos, including education programmes in schools, travelling exhibitions, talks at universities, and the publication of several books. The local communities were actively involved through a network of private reserves committed to the conservation of armadillos, in which armadillos are protected from poaching and monitored by farmers. Breeding and rehabilitation facilities were established that can host confiscated armadillos and raise awareness among the local communities. This case study shows that conservation programmes targeted at inconspicuous and poorly known species can be successful.