Illegal hunting and the bushmeat trade are its driving causes

Oct 26, 2012 12:44 GMT  ·  By
Illegal hunting and the bushmeat trade can lead to ecological collapse in southern Africa
   Illegal hunting and the bushmeat trade can lead to ecological collapse in southern Africa

A recent report focusing on African biodiversity and ecosystems warns that the southern regions of this continent are likely to soon enter a so-called ecological collapse as a result of illegal hunting activities and the bushmeat trade.

Panthera (i.e. the organization behind this latest study into African biodiversity) warns that the animal species that will be first and foremost affected by the aforementioned practices are carnivores such as cheetah, lions, leopards and wild dogs.

As is the case with several marine species, it seems that these African predators end up getting accidentally caught in traps set up by people who were in fact targeting other animals.

Backing up the statements of a previous report released by the World Wildlife Fund, this green-oriented organization emphasizes the fact that, even if they do escape man-made traps, these iconic carnivores are quite likely to hit some very rough patches simply because most of their prey is in fact being eaten by human.

Commenting on this situation, Dr. Rene Czudek, who has recently hosted a workshop in Johannesburg focusing on the issue of illegally extracted bushmeat, argued as follows:

“There is an urgent need to search for viable solutions that will ensure the sustainable use of SADC's [Southern African Development Community] world renowned wildlife resources while contributing to the development of poor rural communities.”

The Wildlife Conservation Society also quotes Dr. Sarah Durant, who stated that, “The continued survival of cheetah across large tracts of their range in the SADC region depends on finding ways to ensure that bushmeat extraction is sustainable.”

In other words, nobody is saying that people in this part of the world should quit eating meat altogether.

Quite the contrary: just like in the case of fisheries worldwide, there is a need to control hunting activities in such ways that the ecosystems in this part of the world do not have their natural balance disturbed.