BCTF Fact Sheet: The Bushmeat Crisis in West & Central Africa
Document Type:
peer review publication
Citation:
Silver Spring, MD BCTF volume number pages 1-2 edition
Ref ID:
855
Ref User:
TobiasonAndy
Ref Type:
Book
Year Published:
2002
Date Input:
8/26/2004 4:00 AM
Availability:
Online at BCTF web site. Print-quality versions by
Location of Project:
In File
Address:
Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, 8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Url:
http://www.bushmeat.org/docs.html
Date Modified:
8/28/2004 4:00 AM
Modified by:
TobiasonAndy
Date Freeform:
2003July
Last Post:
8/28/2004 4:00 AM
Bushmeat Asian Type:
bushmeat
Keywords:
AFRICA; African; Animal; BCTF; bushmeat; CENTRAL AFRICA; CONGO; Congo basin; diet; extinction; FOOD; FOREST; forests; HABITAT; habitat loss; hunting; market; MARKETS; meat; population; protein; rodent; rodents; Task Force; WEST AFRICA; WHO; WILDLIFE
Abstract:
Most of the 24 million people who live within the forests of Central Africa consume the meat of wildlife, and for many it is the primary source of animal protein. 1 million metric tons of wildlife is killed for food in Central Africa each year.
West African wildlife populations have been so depleted by years of unsustainable hunting for meat that bushmeat is no longer the most important source of protein in families' diets, and rodents have become the most commonly eaten wild animals.
Though habitat loss is often cited as the primary cause of wildlife extinction, hunting for commercial markets has become the most immediate threat to the future of wildlife in the Congo Basin and has already resulted in widespread local extinctions in West Africa.