Bushmeat Trade and Primate Conservation around Cross River Park

Bushmeat generally refers to meat derived from wild animals (from wildlife sources), which is normally consumed in place of meat from domestic or livestock sources. The supply of bushmeat from wild sources no doubt serves as the only possible measure to bridge the gap between livestock production protein supply and human population growth. Wild animals of various sizes, both vertebrates and invertebrates, form parts of the diet of people across the globe.
In Subsaharan Africa, the proportion of wild animal meat in the total animal protein supply is exceptionally high. Thus, communities living near rain forest in Nigeria obtained as much as 84% of their total animal protein needs from bushmeat. Forest mammals account for between 20 and 90% of the total animal protein consumed in Benin Republic, Cameroon, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and Nigeria. However, wild animal meat demands tended to a large extent to focus on large game species such as antelopes, large primates, large rodents, etc. The preference for bushmeat has been attributed to the higher protein content and the fact that bushmeat contains less fat than domestic animal meat and supplies iron, vitamins A and B, etc.
The traditional inclination of rural people of the Cross River National Park area towards bushmeat can be explained as a matter of attitude. Based on years of studying and following bushmeat trends and trade around the park, this author has seen that the bushmeat phenomenon transcends current public or popular opinions about the issue. The issue (bushmeat trade and consumption) is as complex as the rain forest itself and the motivation for the trade and consumption as diverse as the species involved in the trade.

Major Bushmeat Markets

Many bushmeat markets exist in Cross River State, Nigeria, and in many other cities within adjoining states in southern Nigeria. But the most popular markets can be found in Obanliku, Obudu, Boki, Ikom, Ugep, Biase, Akamkpa and Calabar Local Government Areas. A majority of these markets are weekly markets, which operate on separate days of the week on a rotational basis. In each of these markets, full bushmeat sales do not go on throughout the duration of the markets. The present strategy involves the sale of bushmeat as soon as day breaks. At this time, the buyers (mostly women) who have gathered from several locations, especially densely populated cities such as Uyo, Aba, Port Harcourt and Calabar, and the middlemen (mostly men) who have returned from several hunting sites across the state and from across the international border, engage in the brisk trade in black market style. It is the middlemen that have either direct contact with the hunters or through village collectors.

Trade Patterns

The traders restrict their sale of bushmeat to the early hours of the day before officials of the law enforcement agencies begin their day’s job. Movement of bushmeat from the interior to the markets etc. is mostly carried out on weekends, especially Sundays, and also public holidays, when officials are less vigilant or are likely to be away from their duty posts. Others go through odd routes, e.g. rivers, bush tracks and farm trails.
Beyond the recognized bushmeat markets, other avenues for trade and consumption include, but are not limited to, roadsides (especially along major highways), restaurants, drinking parlours, hotels, bushmeat bars and joints, bukerterias, etc.
Another serious situation is the cross border trade where hunters cross over to less protected forests in Cameroon to hunt and poach animals, which are then brought into Nigeria for sale. The sequence of trade shows clearly why it is possible to obtain various kinds of bushmeat in any town in southern Nigeria irrespective of its location or whether such animals still exist in these areas or not. Therefore, to the superficial observer, wild animals seem to be inexhaustible. This makes it difficult even for enlightened Nigerians to accept the fact that bushmeat and indeed primates are being exterminated from their native habitats.

Animals Traded

Prior to the 1990s, it was possible to see almost any mammalian species of reasonable size traded in major markets. Recently, even reptiles, birds, amphibians, fishes and insects have not been left out. It is simply the fact that the word ”bushmeat” refers mostly to those animals generally accepted by the largest number of people while others are just consumed as delicacies. Furthermore, recent surveys have shown that certain species are traded for reasons beyond protein supply. Therefore, some species have been traded for ritual and fetish uses, medicinal and concoctive uses, souvenirs and decorative functions as well as the pet trade (if the animals were brought alive to the market).
It has been observed that there is a traditional attachment of the general populace to meat from wild sources. This factor and the relative scarcity of bushmeat have led to higher prices of meat from wild sources than meat from domestic sources. The increased vigilance of park officials has also led to a relative scarcity of bushmeat even in known bushmeat markets. Interestingly, a few areas around the park do not actually have access to other sources of animal protein and hence depend on bushmeat, while in other areas people simply relish bushmeat in spite of available alternatives.

Park Protection and Problems

Rangers as a Paramilitary Outfit. The abrogation of Federal Military Government Decree No. 36 of 1991 and its replacement by Act No. 46 of 1999 brought about the National Parks Service (NPS). This development led to the NPS having a similar status to other paramilitary institutions in Nigeria, for example the Nigerian Immigration Service, Nigerian Customs Service and the Nigerian Prison Services, except that the NPS officials are not equipped with firearms (military rifles, pistols etc.). Save for the above, the rangers have received modern training in paramilitary techniques, tactics and survival strategies. This new development has led to a more efficient Ranger Force in the Cross River National Park and also their new and smart service uniforms have motivated the rangers in recent months. Furthermore, apart from the ranger equipment donated by Bergorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe, the President of the Friends of the Gorillas Inc. of California, USA (Suzanne Kingston) donated protective boots, uniform materials, computer software and accessories as well as office stationery to assist the park in protection activities.

Persistent Problems

Poaching and Encroachment. Rangers have made a number of arrests in connection with poaching and other illegal activities within and outside the park’s core zone in both divisions. A number of illegal farming and non-timber forest product extraction activities have also been observed. There is, however, an increasing awareness of conservation laws and protected forests and animals within the park, so it is worth noting that the park has not recorded any confirmed incident of gorilla killing in the last 5 years. Also, the very fact that trade in bushmeat occurs around unholy hours of the day and in unusual locations is an indication of the impact of the protection activities of the park. It is a common practice these days for any stranger visiting any bushmeat joint to be told that there is no meat on sale for fear of arrest by rangers. If a known person makes the same request, he will be served his choice.
Boundary Demarcation. In some areas, the park’s boundaries are not clearly marked. Some community members, especially in the park support zones, claim ignorance of the boundaries between community forests and the park as an excuse for poaching within the park. To date more than 60 offenders have been arrested.
Inadequate Funding. The Cross River National Park – like most other national parks in Nigeria and elsewhere in West Africa – is grossly hampered by lack of funds, so that many projects are not successfully executed without undue delays and frustrations. Hereby, it would be a welcome relief if well-meaning organisations with clear motives come to assist or sponsor some park management activities, projects as well as provision of kits, equipment, technical support and so on.
Research. There is a serious need for increased research activities in all areas of the park, and to date, research activities have not been conducted in certain important areas of the park except for few casual study visits by some visiting scientists. No long-term well-organized research has been undertaken in recent times within the park and in other national parks. Currently, the members of the Biodiversity Preservation Group (BPG), formerly Primates Preservation Group, have continued to maintain a research presence in some key areas of the park in both Divisions. The members of the group have been engaged in primate surveys, notably Cross River gorilla surveys in the Okwangwo Division and the Mbe Mountains, and Preuss’s red colobus monkey surveys in the Ikpan Forest Block of the Oban Division. However, both studies, which were supported by grants from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the Margot Marsh Biodiversity Foundation coordinated by Conservation International through John F. Oates, came to an end in July 2001.
Cross Border Issues. In recent months, the Cross River National Park developed a better working relationship with other conservation agencies across the international border with Cameroon. Thus, the Korup National Park in southwestern Cameroon, Takamanda Forest Reserve, and the GTZ project PROFA (Protection of Forests around Akwaya), also in Cameroon, are initiating collaborative management activities for the collective benefits of both natural resources and people in the short term and the earth on the long term.

Recommendations and Conclusions

Since people traditionally tend to prefer bushmeat, the Government, NGOs, schools, etc. should embark on projects educating Nigerians about wild animals and bushmeat on one hand, and conservation of biodiversity on the other hand. The projects should also provide alternatives to bushmeat, one example is the ”ONLY LIVESTOCK” project of BPG.
It is recommended that meat from livestock sources be provided in areas where people have no access to it. In addition, the domestication of adaptable wildlife species for consumption should be encouraged in areas where people have access to livestock but show preferences to animals from the wild (bushmeat). This measures would to help our national parks achieve their long-term goals of biodiversity conservation.

Edem A. Eniang

Edem A. Eniang is working as a researcher in the Cross River National Park.

Cross River overview

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