New Study Unveils Shiftin Patterns in African Wildlife Huntin

A grundbrakkin study haes shed licht on the evolvin dynamics o wild animal huntin in African tropical forests. Co-led by Professor Katharine Abernethy, this research merks the first comprehensive examination o huntin patterns on a regional scale. Advances in data availability hae made this exploration possible, revealin critical insichts intae the socio-cultural, economic, an environmental factors that shape huntin practices.

Conducted in partnership wi organisations sic as the Wildlife Conservation Society an the Institut de Recherche en Ecologie Tropicale, the study yaised wildmeat.org, the lairgest free-access compilation o African huntin data. It analysed data fae 115 settlements, synthesisin findins fae 83 studies published atween 1991 an 2020.

Ane o the maist strikin revelations is the shift fae traditional huntin tools like spears an traps tae fire-airms. This chynge allous hunters tae target commercially valuable species mair effectively. As a result, primate populations, that haud heich mercat value, micht face increased threits.

The research pynts oot a troublin trend: a transition fae subsistence huntin tae commercial huntin. This shift caters tae the growin demand for bushmeat in urban areas, leadin tae a surge in wild meat trade an gun huntin. Sic practices cuid lead tae significant declines in lairger wildlife populations, pairticularly in regions wi easily accessible an degraded forests.

Professor Abernethy emphasises the importance o this research for decision-makkers an conservationists. Improved clarity on huntin patterns aids in craftin strategies for the sustainable management o wildlife. Policymakkers are urged tae consider the critical role o wildlife in fuid security, especially in regions whaur local communities rely on these resoorces.

The study wis led by Dr. Daniel Ingram fae the Durrell Institute o Conservation an Ecology, alangside Professor Abernethy, Professor Jörn Scharlemann, an Dr. Lauren Coad. Dr. Ingram stresses the need for robust monitorin an management framewarks for hunters an traders tae ensure the sustainability o huntin systems.

Titled “Regional patterns o wild animal huntin in African tropical forests,” the study wis published in Nature Sustainability an received fundin fae the United States Fish an Wildlife Service, USAID, UK Research an Innovation, an the UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund. This research serves as a vital resoorce in the ongaun effort tae balance human needs wi wildlife conservation in Africa.