The bushmeat market in Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo: implications for conservation and food security

Abstract

Given the important contribution of urban consumption in bushmeat trade, information on bushmeat sales in urban markets can provide valuable insights for understanding the dynamics of this trade and its implications for conservation and food security. We monitored bushmeat traded in the market of Kisangani (the provincial capital of the Province Orientale in the Democratic Republic of Congo) and compared data collected in surveys in 2002 and 2008-2009. In both periods more than two-thirds of the carcasses sold were of rodents and ungulates. From 2002 to 2008-2009 the number of carcasses increased by 44% but the equivalent biomass by only 16% because of a significant decrease in medium-sized species (10-50 kg) and an increase in small species (, 10 kg). The number of carcasses of large species increased between the two periods and those of diurnal monkeys increased fourfold. In both periods smoked bushmeat was one of the cheapest sources of protein available year-round, together with caterpillars, which were only available during the rainy season, and pork. Prices of other domestic meat were significantly higher. This study identified an increase in the market of highly threatened species such as okapi Okapia johnstoni and small diurnal monkeys and the continued presence of protected species, and also highlights the food security role that bushmeat plays for poor urban people who cannot afford alternative sources of protein.

Cultural attitudes are stronger predictors of bushmeat consumption and preference than economic factors among urban Amazonians from Brazil and Colombia

“…However, if people Ecology and Society 20(4): 21 http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol20/iss4/art21/ were to have a low preference for bushmeat compared to other protein sources, an increase in income might be accompanied by a lower proportional increase in consumption, and bushmeat would be considered an inferior good. However, under this last scenario, people with low incomes would rely on bushmeat more than do wealthy people if it were easily available and less expensive than other animal proteins (van Vliet et al 2012).…”

Okapi (Okapia johnstoni) : stratégie et revue du statut de conservation

“…A Kisangani la viande de brousse est moins chère que de nombreuses autres sources alternatives de protéines (van Vliet et al 2012) ou perçue essentiellement comme une protéine à « moindre coût », car elle peut être capturée au lieu d'être achetée (Kümpel 2006). Une étude récente a montré que les espèces de mammifères ont diminué dans les zones proches de Kisangani en raison d'une surexploitation ; les céphalophes représentent le groupe d'espèces de viande de brousse le plus important, mais les espèces en danger comme le chimpanzé et l'okapi sont également tuées (Dauwe 2014).…”

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

“…To some communities, it is more important than any other source of protein (Fusari and Carpaneto 2006). Bushmeat can be one of the cheapest forms of protein, even in substantial urban markets where prices are lower than those of domestic meat, as is the case in the capital of Orientale Province in the DRC, a city of 680,000 people (van Vliet et al 2012).…”