Bushmeat - A Problem Which Is Spreading

There is a growing problem in some parts of the world, and it is a problem which has already been faced in other regions where it turned into a complete disaster, bushmeat. Hunting has always been present in human society with it providing a key source of protein for many different cultures around the world, however like everything with a growing population and economy it’s becoming more of an issue.

Currently the main areas which have been affected by hunting is lowland tropical forest that have been opened up to easy access due new forestry roads and the increased availability of weapons which make hunting more efficient. Bushmeat began to become a problem in South East Asia just over 40 years ago. Since then 12 vertebrates have been extirpated through over hunting driven by the bushmeat demand within Asia. Bushmeat demand has now become a problem in  the rich forests of Central Africa with estimates of 1-3.4x10⁶ tonnes begin harvested every single year many of which are primates and so are not being replaced due to slow breeding cycles. The trade is beginning to pick up in South America in countries such as Peru as well, with it expected to become a major issue in that region in the next 10 years.  

The bushmeat trade is mainly being driven by growing economies. This happens because as rural populations move into urban areas and become successful they still like traditional foods and as they can now afford it bushmeats become a regular meal and so animals become harvested at an unsustainable rate.  For instance on the Island of Bioko of the west coast of Africa is consuming  over 100,000Kg of wild meat by some 80,000 inhabitants annually.

There is hope with some bushmeat however as long as they are harvested sustainably. In South America studies have shown that many animals such as peccary (a species of wild pig), grey brocket deer and paca can all be harvested due to their r selected breeding systems, while tapir and many primates will suffer if the same levels of bushmeat harvest were to continue.

It isn’t just the meat that wild animals are hunted for in Java many thousands of snakes are captured every year to provide skins for the fashion trade. Within living memory the average length of the large constrictors has dropped by over a foot (from a little over 4ft to less than 3ft). This is a sad fact as until recently there had been a smaller call for animal based fashion products since the protests in the 20^th century. These protests have slowly been forgotten about and I believe that they is a need for a reminder of the pain fur and skin fashion industries cause on wildlife.

Finally it’s important to remember that although bushmeat usually refers to the collection of terrestrial meat, but can also be stretched to include marine life as well. Due to the fact that both Japan and South Korea refuse to monitor their marine bycatch market a large number of whales are being caught and not reported, number from genetic data recently have suggested that twice the numbers of whales which have been reported are being sold in markets. This is due to the fact that a single whale has a worth in excess of $100,000 and so it is economic greet and demand driving this trade.

So how can the effects of illegal and unsustainable bushmeat harvesting be reduced? Well to start with more money needs to be spent in developing rural areas so as the villages don’t have to resort to hunting as a source of income. Currently in Peru for example, the rural hunting sector is worth US

$1,131,910 annually so is see as a profitable sector to enter and this is a view we need to change.

Secondly people need to be educated so as to understand that these methods ‘they have always used’ are no longer an option simple due to the large number of people wanting to practice them.

Thanks for reading!

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