Regional patterns of wild animal hunting in African tropical forests

Daniel J. Ingram (), Graden Z. L. Froese, Daire Carroll, Paul C. Bürkner, Fiona Maisels, Ajonina S. Abugiche, Sophie Allebone-Webb, Andrew Balmford, Daniel Cornelis, Marc Dethier, Edmond Dounias, Herbert G. Ekodeck, Charles A. Emogor, Julia E. Fa, Davy Fonteyn, Andrea Ghiurghi, Elizabeth Greengrass, Noëlle F. Kümpel, Karen Lupo, Jonas Muhindo, Germain Ngandjui, Gracia Dorielle Ngohouani, François Sandrin, Judith Schleicher, Dave N. Schmitt, Liliana Vanegas, Hadrien P. A. Vanthomme, Nathalie van Vliet, Adam S. Willcox, Donald Midoko Iponga, Della Kemalasari, Usman Muchlish, Robert Nasi, Yahya Sampurna, Francis Nchembi Tarla, Jasmin Willis, Jӧrn P. W. Scharlemann, Katharine Abernethy and Lauren Coad
Additional contact information
Daniel J. Ingram: University of Stirling
Graden Z. L. Froese: Nsombou Abalghe-Dzal Association
Daire Carroll: University of Gothenburg
Paul C. Bürkner: TU Dortmund University
Fiona Maisels: University of Stirling
Ajonina S. Abugiche: Canada-Cameroon Ape Network
Sophie Allebone-Webb: Ecosec
Andrew Balmford: University of Cambridge
Daniel Cornelis: CIRAD
Marc Dethier: Sahara Conservation
Edmond Dounias: IRD
Herbert G. Ekodeck: Wildlife Conservation Society
Charles A. Emogor: University of Cambridge
Julia E. Fa: Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
Davy Fonteyn: CIRAD
Andrea Ghiurghi: AGRECO G.E.I.E
Elizabeth Greengrass: Independent researcher
Noëlle F. Kümpel: BirdLife International
Karen Lupo: Southern Methodist University
Jonas Muhindo: Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
Germain Ngandjui: Independent consultant
Gracia Dorielle Ngohouani: Wildlife Conservation Society
François Sandrin: Wildlife Conservation Society
Judith Schleicher: University of Oxford
Dave N. Schmitt: Southern Methodist University
Liliana Vanegas: Wildlife Conservation Society
Hadrien P. A. Vanthomme: CIRAD
Nathalie van Vliet: Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
Adam S. Willcox: University of Tennessee
Donald Midoko Iponga: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique
Della Kemalasari: Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
Usman Muchlish: Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
Robert Nasi: Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
Yahya Sampurna: Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
Francis Nchembi Tarla: Central African Bushmeat Action Group
Jasmin Willis: Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF)
Jӧrn P. W. Scharlemann: University of Sussex
Katharine Abernethy: University of Stirling
Lauren Coad: University of Sussex

Nature Sustainability, 2025, vol. 8, issue 2, 202-214

Abstract: Abstract Wildlife contributes to the diets, livelihoods and socio-cultural activities of people worldwide; however, unsustainable hunting is a major pressure on wildlife. Regional assessments of the factors associated with hunting offtakes are needed to understand the scale and patterns of wildlife exploitation relevant for policy. We synthesized 83 studies across West and Central Africa to identify the factors associated with variation in offtake. Our models suggest that offtake per hunter per day is greater for hunters who sell a greater proportion of their offtake; among non-hunter-gatherers; and in areas that have better forest condition, are closer to protected areas and are less accessible from towns. We present evidence that trade and gun hunting have increased since 1991 and that areas more accessible from towns and with worse forest condition may be depleted of larger-bodied wildlife. Given the complex factors associated with regional hunting patterns, context-specific hunting management is key to achieving a sustainable future.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41893-024-01494-5

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