Species in Bushmeat Trade In Cameroon and The Republic of Congo

Pangolins, Great apes, African civets, and species of antelope were just some of the protected species found for sale in 2019 by 59 randomly selected bushmeat vendors across Cameroon and the Republic of Congo.

“While wild meat provides food security and income to many rural communities in Cameroon and the Republic of Congo, the commercial bushmeat trade and demand for by-products pose a danger of overexploitation to already threatened African species, like the pangolin for meat and traditional medicine,” said Momballa Mbun, Research Officer for TRAFFIC’s Reducing Trade Threats to Africa's wild species and ecosystems (ReTTA) project and co-author of the report.

Due to the ongoing, conspicuous sale of some protected species and the emergence of new species in the bushmeat trade, the report raised concerns about the current irregular monitoring of markets and law enforcement’s tolerance of bushmeat suppliers and consumers who disregard some aspects of the law, undermining national legislation.

Long-term monitoring, targeted surveys, and investigations to understand the hunting and consumption of wild products enforcement are needed to address illegal and unsustainable practices within Cameroon and the Congo’s bushmeat trade. But to work towards a sustainable trade and healthy species’ populations, recommendations must be reinforced by sustained political will and effective law.”

Camilla Floros, TRAFFIC’s ReTTA Project Lead

The report observed trends that may indicate the need not only to increase the monitoring of bushmeat markets but also expand surveys to include seemingly non-threatened, and therefore less-protected species that may be emerging as substitutes for traditional medicine markets.

Although not illegal, porcupine bezoars (partially digested material that collects in the stomach believed to treat severe ailments like cancer) were covertly sold to East and Southeast Asian nationals and Cameroonian traditional medicine practitioners.

Given the experiences with African pangolin, the most traded mammal in the world and now threatened with extinction, it seems pertinent to highlight and monitor the bezoar trade so that it does not descend into unsustainable levels that would jeopardise porcupine populations.”

Momballa Mbun, Research Officer for the ReTTA project and co-author of the report

Porcupines are considered non-threatened Class C¹ bushmeat species in both countries. However, the appearance of porcupine bezoars for sale could solely be a by-product of the meat trade or could indicate this species is currently targeted as an emerging source for traditional medicine. In one systematic monitoring of a market in Edea, Cameroon, porcupine amounted to 25% of all Class C wild product sales over 61 weeks. 

Worryingly, despite the CITES 2017 ban on the international commercial trade in Grey Parrots and its protected status in both countries, the species were still being traded, although not typically sold as bushmeat. According to the National Coordinator for ETIC and other additional information, the authors of the report noted a developing trade in Grey Parrot skulls and feathers in the Congo.

It also appears parts of this species may still be traded for decorating traditional caps as a status symbol for chiefs, notables and elders in some cultures in Cameroon and hunted locally in Central and West Africa for its feathers, head and meat for use in traditional medicine and ceremonies.

SO WHAT CAN BE DONE?

Several actionable recommendations to help monitor and enforce laws surrounding the bushmeat trade in these Central African countries are captured in the report.

They include:

1. Regular and in-depth market surveys
2. Assessing the viability of local animal populations
3. Implementation of bushmeat information systems

“Alongside working with government agencies and other NGOs on several recommendations from this report, TRAFFIC will continue to support the implementation of bushmeat information systems such as the Central African Bushmeat Monitoring System (SYVBAC), ensuring that it includes the ability to detect and pre-empt the overexploitation of otherwise less threatened species like the porcupine, for new high-value products with potentially unsustainable demand.” Denis Mahonghol TRAFFIC’s Director for Central Africa Programme Office.