Understanding the influence of non-wealth factors in determining bushmeat consumption: Results from four West African countries

Abstract

The meat of wild animals (bushmeat) is consumed extensively in many tropical regions. Over the past few decades bushmeat consumption has greatly increased, threatening the survival of some hunted species and the supply of animal protein to countless numbers of people. Understanding patterns of bushmeat consumption is thus vital to ensure the sustainable use of this resource. Although the economic drivers of bushmeat consumption has been well studied, non-wealth correlates have been poorly considered. Here, we analyse how factors such as age and gender influence bushmeat consumption in four West African countries, within the Guinean forests (Togo and Nigeria) and Sahel (Burkina Faso and Niger). We interviewed a total of 2,453 persons (1,253 urban, 1,200 in rural areas) to determine frequency of consumption of bushmeat as well as main species eaten. We found significant differences in bushmeat consumption between rural and urban areas in all four countries. In particular, the proportion of persons not consuming any bushmeat was highest in urban areas. Gender differences in bushmeat consumption was not generally important but young people consistently avoided eating bushmeat, especially in Togo and Nigeria, and in urban areas. The complicated interplay between tradition and evolution of social systems (especially the trends towards westernization) may explain the different perceptions that people may have towards consuming bushmeat in the four studied countries. In addition, we found considerable variation in types of bushmeat eaten, with antelopes and large rodents eaten by the great majority of interviewees, but bats, monkeys, and snakes being avoided, especially in urban settlements.

Price Elasticity of Bushmeat Demand in the Greater Serengeti Ecosystem: Insights for Managing the Bushmeat Trade

“…In summary, our findings show that the relationship between bushmeat demand and wealth depends on the type of meat available, which is consistent with findings in the literature that show that bushmeat demand varies depending on the context, including whether it is rural or urban (Fa and Brown, 2009;Brashares et al, 2011;Luiselli et al, 2019) and likely also depending on food state and bushmeat species (East et al, 2005;Schenck et al, 2006;Ndibalema and Songorwa, 2008;Mwakatobe et al, 2012). Our results only partially support the concerns of other studies in the GSE indicating that efforts to increase household income and wealth will also increase bushmeat demand as well as demand for other protein sources.…”

“…This is likely due to heterogeneity in our sample as a result of the large geographical extent and cultural diversity of the population in our study area causing different preferences, availability and familiarity with different meat types. Such differences were also observed in interviews of 2453 individuals in 27 communities across Nigeria, Togo, Niger and Burkina Faso (Luiselli et al, 2019) and may explain why most crossprice elasticities were insignificant. However, as we have tried to capture this heterogeneity by the inclusion of relevant covariates, we can discern general trends in bushmeat demand elasticities and identify differences in elasticities across socio-economic groups, locations and depending on spatial variables.…”

“…Simultaneously providing alternative income generation opportunities for hunters, that ideally should be incompatible with poaching or contingent on wildlife increase, may further increase the opportunity cost of hunting but may require substantial conceptual rethinking as well as improvement in funding design, monitoring and evaluation and the use of adaptive management strategies (Wright et al, 2016;Wicander and Coad, 2018). Furthermore, given sufficient time and prevalent urbanization, cultural norms and preferences toward bushmeat consumption are likely to change and reduce the acceptability of bushmeat consumption (Luiselli et al, 2019). The question is in what state the GSE and its wildlife populations will be at that time.…”

Mapping the availability of bushmeat for consumption in Central African cities

“…protein but many opt for bushmeat for reasons other than its nutritional importance (Chausson et al 2019). City dwellers may eat bushmeat as a means of culturally re-connecting to their place of origin, where they or their parents consumed bushmeat (Luiselli et al 2017(Luiselli et al , 2018(Luiselli et al , 2019. Although consumers in some provincial towns (particularly isolated ones) may buy bushmeat because it is the cheaper meat and more readily available (Van Vliet et al 2010, Fargeot et al 2017), bushmeat in metropolitan cities is more of a luxury item and status symbol (Drury 2011, Ngoc and Wyatt 2013, Shairp et al 2016, Wilkie et al 2016.…”

Bushmeat consumption in large urban centres in West Africa

“…Bushmeat, or the meat of wild animals, is a crucial source of protein for rural people and is also consumed by urban inhabitants, often as a commodity (Fa et al, 2002a,b, 2006; Brashares et al, 2011). Although bushmeat may be less important for the food security of large cities (Hema et al, 2017; Luiselli et al, 2017a,b), the overall volume consumed can be large and this can have consequences for the targeted wildlife populations (van Vliet et al, 2011). To guide behaviour-change campaigns there is a need to ascertain which consumer groups should be targeted, and whether this varies by geographical location.…”