Eating and selling bushmeat (meat from wild animals) is critical to the livelihood of the rural poor in Cameroon & DRC. It provides a flexible source of income, a direct source of animal protein with good storage qualities, and a safety net in times of particular hardship.
But high demand for bushmeat, especially from endangered species, in the cities is having serious consequences on wildlife populations in and around protected areas. Though policies and legislation have been introduced to limit this, they are not always applied.
Bushmeat was the primary source of animal protein for households in 7 of 12 districts surveyed in Kinshasa, according to a study carried out by the World Conservation Society. Elephant is among the most commonly eaten species in Kinshasa and Yaounde.
Challenge:
• Poaching and overhunting are still significant, highlighting the need to provide alternatives to bushmeat.
