Contrasts in availability and consumption of animal protein in Bioko Island, West Africa: the role of bushmeat

Abstract

Most protein in sub-Saharan Africa comes from animal sources, a significant proportion of this from wild species or bushmeat. Availability of protein sources to human populations in Africa has not been studied before, perhaps because most population centres are too large for data collection to be practicable. Assessment of the availability and consumption of animal protein within the city of Malabo (c. 60 000 inhabitants), Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea, included estimation of the annual animal protein supply to the city from daily counts of small livestock meats (goat, pork, lamb, duck, chicken), beef, fish and bushmeat (December 2003-March 2004) in the city's central market and other selling points, and the animal protein consumption per adult male equivalent (AME) derived from a sample of around 200 households to explore influence of household income on consumption of different protein sources. Current animal protein production (bushmeat, small livestock meats, beef and fish) in Bioko, and potential production needed to supply adequate amounts of protein to the people of Malabo in the future were calculated. Annually around 2100 t of meat/fish (460 t of animal protein) was available, of which only 7% was produced on the island. Consumption patterns indicated that largersized households purchased more meat, but protein intake per AME fell significantly with household size. Income was positively correlated with volume of small livestock meats consumed per household, but negatively related with bushmeat eaten. Income did not influence beef or fish consumption per household. Although the island is capable of producing more alternative meats, it cannot sustain itself on local production and will therefore continue to be dependent on importing a large proportion of meat (and protein). There is no dependency on bushmeat species, but current rates of wild species use can still have a dramatic impact on wildlife populations on the island if left unabated. Alternative ways of ensuring sufficient protein supply for the Malabo population are crucial

Returns from Indigenous Hunting in The Lowland Coastal Forests of West Papua, Benefits Threatened Wildlife Species

“…In contrast to studies from the Africa and South American, estimates of the national value of the bushmeat trade range from US$42 205 million across countries in -West and Central Africa (Davies 2002 Data provided by hunters and from the published source (Flannery 1995) 2 Dressed weights harvested (the weight of an animal after eviscerating, weight loss of 40%, (Auzel & Wilkie 2000;Albrechtsen et al 2006) We found that venison-meat from deer, was usually transported to the nearest district where the meat was sold to non-apuan natives, mostly uslim at the transmigrant p m settlements. In this study, the harvest rates of particular species were also more likely to be influenced by market demand and consumer preference for particular bushmeat and the market value was promising.…”

Estimation of the Human Blood Index in Malaria Mosquito Vectors in Equatorial Guinea after Indoor Antivector Interventions

“…This may be because of the scarcity of non-human hosts in collection sites that results from an observed lack of animal husbandry practices in Equatorial Guinea relative to other sub-Saharan African localities. 32,33 In these situations, ongoing antimalarial interventions may not be enough to divert malaria vectors to non-human hosts. Different results may also be attributed to behavioral differences in local vector population or differences in collection methods.…”

Bushmeat harvest in tropical forests: Knowledge base, gaps and research priorities

“…This is problematic because there is little guarantee that small increases in income will dissuade bushmeat hunters from taking advantage of bushmeat. Once people can afford modern arms, the use of bushmeat may well decline with increasing income, as in Latin America (Wilkie and Godoy 2001) and Equatorial Guinea (Albrechtsen et al 2006). However, where bushmeat conveys status or is preferred for taste or other cultural reasons, its consumption will rise steadily with income, as in Gabon (Wilkie et al 2005) and even elsewhere in Equatorial Guinea (Fa et al 2009).…”