Commercial exploitation of bushmeat, meat from wild animals killed for human consumption, is a threat to wildlife populations in Africa, Asia, Oceania and South America. Many species are affected, from birds and small mammals, to larger animals such as gorillas, hippos, and elephants; several of these species are endangered or protected. Bushmeat hunting is currently one of the world’s most pressing conservation problems.

Bushmeat hunting is a complex issue with cultural and economic implications. For centuries, bushmeat has been one of the most valuable natural resources for local communities. As poverty spreads, traditional taboos restricting the consumption of certain species are increasingly ignored. And with human populations rising, demand for bushmeat increases; it is even being served as a delicacy in restaurants around the world.

In recent years the logging of tropical forests has put even greater pressure on wild animals, because it damages their habitats and because logging roads open up forests to commercial hunters and traders. Moreover, logging companies have been reported using bushmeat to feed their labourers.

To meet the increasing demand for bushmeat, hunters are turning to more effective techniques, such as ‘spot-lighting’ and long-line wire snaring. Research by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) shows that in Asia 71 % of hunted species are harvested unsustainably; in Africa and Latin America the figures are 68 % and 40 %, respectively. Although unsustainable hunting is a global issue, the bushmeat trade is particularly significant within Africa. Commercial hunting for wild animal meat has become the most pressing threat to the future of wildlife in the Congo Basin.

Forests in the Congo Basin