Bush Meat Market Surveys 2021

The bushmeat survey was done for a period of 6 months in the different communities from January to June 2021. This socio-economic survey was designed to assess the bushmeat markets, supply chain and quantity of pangolin and other wildlife harvested per season. Competent field assistants and community guides were purposefully selected and trained on the collection of socio-economic data pertaining to bushmeat harvest and trade. This was done during the sensitization meetings in the 10 communities. A questionnaire and interview guide were designed. The questionnaire was designed in two parts; part one captured bushmeat markets, routes and supply chain while part two captured the quantity of bushmeat harvested in the area per season. We selected one hunter from each village to lead the research team based on their popularity and position held in the hunting circle. Datasheets were distributed to them and were collected every month. This was in a bit to obtain reliable data on harvest in the different villages.

From the data collected, all species of animal in the park are harvested and sold for economic purpose with little part of the species consumed locally. We recorded 92 pangolins both smoked and fresh. Highly harvested species included cane rat, blue duiker, bay duikers, porcupine, African civet, wild cat, antelope, baboons, white nose monkeys, mona monkey, patas monkey, rock hyrax, ground giant squirrels and mongoose, pythons and monitor lizards. Some of the species detected in the market such as the wild cats are not found in the database of the Kimbi-Fungom National Park. This means that a lot is still to be done as far as biodiversity study is concerned in the park. Most often, hunters notified research team on hunting expeditions. Most of the catches were assessed directly from the source (hunters hurt). It was confirmed that about 75% of the bush meat harvested are sold to Nigerians the access River Katsina Ala