Segmentation of the Wild Animal Meat Consumer Market in Belém Municipality, Pará State, Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

The growing demand for nutritious protein-rich foods has increased the visibility of the wild animal meat market, and created an alternative replacement for traditional meats. The informality in this product offer is a characteristic feature of this market. It is necessary to certify the existence of a public in this market niche. This segmentation of the wild animal meat consumer market in Belém municipality, Pará state, in the Brazilian Amazon, was carried out to identify consumers’ perceptions of the economic potential of this activity. Data were obtained from a representative sample of consumers in Belém, one of the most representative consumption centers in the Amazon. Market segmentation was performed using two multivariate techniques: factor analysis to simplify the original data matrix, and cluster analysis to identify homogeneous groups according to the highest degree of similarity of objects in relation to the attributes of interest. The survey results showed that factors such as consumption preferences, product availability, education level, income, and family composition are determinants of the consumption of wild animal meat. The study also confirmed the existence of a market for this product in food establishments such as bars and restaurants. The main wild animal meats consumed were tartaruga-da-Amazônia (Podocnemis expansa) (61.67%), alligator (Alligatoridae) (56.67%), paca (Cuniculus paca) (52.50%), deer (Cervidae) (40.83%), armadillo (Dasypodidae) (40.00 %), muçuã (Kinosternon scorpioides) (30.83%), capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) (29.58%), tortoise (Chelonoidis) (21.25%), tracajá (Podocnemis unifilis) (19.58%), peccary (Pecari tajacu) (17.08%) and sloth (Folivora) (12.92%). The expansion of this market, requires strategies to strengthen the regular sustainable supply of the product, including public initiative efforts regarding the regulatory framework of the activity and entrepreneurial efforts for the necessary investments in breeding and slaughtering system officers.

Comparing hunting practices of urban and rural inhabitants in Western Amazonia: the role of religion, wealth, and livelihoods

“…This similarity between urban and rural hunters might be related to species distribution and availability and could potentially impact the most hunted species if hunting grounds overlap. Understanding hunting patterns, especially those of urban hunters can be used to manage hunting activities more effectively, improve law enforcement against illegal hunting as well as develop more effective conservation strategies.rise in population numbers in cities and towns in Amazonia, often resulting from migration from rural areas has led to a greater demand for wild meat (e.g., Chaves et al, 2021;Rebello et al, 2022). In recent decades, urban areas in Amazonia have been populated by a variety of rural peoples of different ethnic groups and socioeconomic backgrounds, motivated by better access to health, education, and technology (Parry et al, 2010;Eloy et al, 2015;Sobreiro, 2015).…”

“…rise in population numbers in cities and towns in Amazonia, often resulting from migration from rural areas has led to a greater demand for wild meat (e.g., Chaves et al, 2021;Rebello et al, 2022). In recent decades, urban areas in Amazonia have been populated by a variety of rural peoples of different ethnic groups and socioeconomic backgrounds, motivated by better access to health, education, and technology (Parry et al, 2010;Eloy et al, 2015;Sobreiro, 2015).…”