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3.1.3 Bushmeat trade

Wild animals hunted may be consumed, sold locally or transported to urban markets where they fetch higher prices. Factors which determine which species are sold or consumed include the size of the animal, cultural inhibitions as well as personal or public appeal and demand. Table 3.4 gives the proportion of animal groups sold or consumed in a study of hunters' quarry in northeastern Gabon (Lahm, 1993). Rodents and other small-sized mammals were more likely to be consumed locally while the more appealing and profitable game were sold. Similar practices have been reported in Zaire where 77.5 % of ungulates killed by hunters were sold whereas 55.1 % rodents and 57.1 % of primates were eaten .n villages (Colyn et al., 1987).

The general trend in the past was for smaller species to be consumed locally while larger animals were sold. This trend however, is changing as a result of a combination of factors including increased demand, scarcity and the need for cash. Hence, species like pangolins, reptiles and rodents which were in the past consumed by the hunters' households or even only by children now find their way into the market.

Table 3.4 Proportion of hunted wild animal groups sold or consumed by hunters in villages in forested areas in north-eastern Gabon (Source Lahm, 1993)

Apart from countries such as Kenya and South Africa where game hunting is strictly controlled, bushmeat markets exist in many urban and rural markets throughout Africa. Bushmeat marketing is particularly well developed in West Africa and it is also the area where the trade has been well documented (see e.g. Asibey, 1977; Jeffery, 1977; Martin, 1983; Ntiamoa-Baidu, 1987). Bushmeat is an expensive meat throughout the region and in many areas it is more expensive than meat of domestic animals.

A number of bushmeat market centres in Ghana, notably the Kantamanto market in Accra and the Atwemonom market in Kumasi, have been studied for varying periods since the 1970's (see e.g. Asibey, 1977, Ntiamoa-Baidu, 1987, Falconer, 1992; Tutu et al., 1993). In Kumasi Ghana, a well organised bushmeat trade provides the main source of income to a chain of bushmeat traders (mainly women) involving wholesalers and retailers (Falconer, 1992; Tutu e' al. 1993). The bushmeat trade at the Atwemonom market is highly organised as small family businesses passed on from one generation to the next and fourth generation traders, i.e., traders whose mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers had been bushmeat traders can be found (see Box 7). The name "Atwomonom" (Atwe = plural for duiker; mono = fresh) means a place for fresh duiker meat in the Akan language.

Between 1971 and 1986, a yearly average of 68,797 kg (range 19,750 to 105,003 kg) of fresh bushmeat carcasses from 10-25 different wild animal species was recorded in the Kantamanto market (Table 3.5). More recent data on volume of fresh and smoked bushmeat coming into bushmeat markets in Kumasi are given in Table 3.6. A total of 13,884.6 kg of bushmeat valued at ¢9,251,759* were recorded over a 27-day period in 1991. This comprised of 3.6,32 animal carcasses belonging to 31 species. The total weights recorded in all cases were reported to be minimal because either; a) the recorders were not at the market on all days or throughout any particular day; b) often, some traders refused to allow records to be taken on their animals, or c) weights of some of the smoked meat recorded were not available.

Table 3.5. Volume of Bushmeat Trade in Kantamanto Market, Accra (1971 - 1986)(`Sources: Asibey, 1974. 1982. Ntiamoa-Baidu 1987;& unpbl data)

*US $ equivalent to - Cedis in 1991
**US $1.02 in 1971 ¢1.00; US$1equiv ¢60 in 1986.

Table 3.6 Volume and value of Bushmeat recorded in three Bushmeat Market Centres* in
Kumasi (over a period of 27 days between April and June 1990) (Source Falconer, 1992).

* Market Centres: Atwemonom, Central Market and Kejetia Lorry Park.
** Includes both fresh and smoked meat. Records minimal because some weights were missing for the smoked meat.

In 1993, an attempt was made to obtain a more complete picture of the volume of bushmeat trade passing through the Kantamanto market and the Atwemonom markets. Observers were stationed at the markets from dawn to dusk every day over a one week period in March and May to record the species, weights, purchase and retail prices of every animal coming to the markets. A total of 1276 carcasses weighing approx. 9,470 kg were recorded at the Kantamanto (742) and the Atwemonom (534) markets. These were purchased from the hunters at a total price of ¢3,177,164.00 and ¢2,891,250.00 at the two markets respectively (Tables 3.7 and 3.8). Analysis of the data showed that the profit margin of the Kumasi bushmeat traders ranged from 30 to 250% depending on the species and size of animal involved (Fig. 4).

Excluding the close season period (1st August to 1st December) when exploitation of most species is prohibited and therefore sale is done under cover, the figures recorded during the one week period in 1993 translates to an annual minimal production of 331,261 kg of bushmeat valued at ¢212,394,490 passing through the two markets alone. A comparison of the volume, weights and prices of the common animals coming into Kantamanto market in 1974, 1985 and 1993 showed that:

• species composition and volume of individual species marketed varied from year to year;
• the price per head of all species had increased several times fold;
• there was no indication of decreases in the sizes of animals being hunted;
• there had been very little change in the overall level of exploitation.

This would suggest that although the populations of most wild animal species are believed to be declining in the West African sub-region, hunters continue to put sufficient effort into hunting to maintain supply levels and satisfy the ever growing demand for bushmeat.

Fig. 4 Margin of profit made by bushmeat traders in Kumasi Atwemonom market (survey period, May-June 1993)

Table 3.7 Bushmeat trade in Kantamanto market, Accra, Ghana (over a one week period, May 1993)

Table 3.8 Bushmeat trade in Atwemonom market, Kumasi, Ghana (over a one week period, March 1993)

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