Bushmeat

In large parts of their range, gorillas are hunted for their meat although this is illegal.

WHAT IS BUSHMEAT?

The trade in bushmeat, the meat of wild animals, can have major impacts, particularly when it happens on a large scale. Logging companies construct roads, which opens up the forest and creates favourable conditions for the bushmeat trade. In many areas, hunting has already resulted in the dramatic decline of gorillas and the populations of other hunted animals. In many locations, projects have been set up to counteract overhunting and the consumption or trade of bushmeat.

 

WHERE DO GORILLA ORPHANS COME FROM?

A side effect of hunt gorillas for food is the trade in live gorilla babies who are taken after their mothers have been killed. They are sold to private individuals who usually keep them in terrible conditions. Some of these babies are confiscated by the authorities and end up in gorilla orphanages.


Progress at GRACE Amid Serious Challenges

The past two years have proven challenging for the Gorilla Rehabilitation and Conservation Education (GRACE) Center, the world's only sanctuary for…

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Ebola Reduces Bushmeat Consumption

Bushmeat traders in Watt Market in Calabar, Cross River State, South Eastern Nigeria, are lamenting the poor sales of bushmeat since the outbreak of…

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Bushmeat Trafficking in Switzerland

Illegal meats for human consumption are smuggled daily into airports worldwide and some of this meat originates from wild species, including primates.…

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Bushmeat Hunting Changes African Rainforests

Hunting often devastates populations of large mammals, and this may have impact on other animal and plant communities. In two recent studies (Effiom…

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Shifting Trend of Ape Trafficking

Wildlife law enforcement operation in East of Cameroon led to arrest of traffickers in gorilla parts. (© LAGA)

In recent years, the trafficking of Afri­ca's apes has evolved into a highly organized criminal activity, but the situation has remained largely…

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Conservation Action Plan in Congo

UGADEC region in northeastern Congo

Some of the largest tracts of forest habitat in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo are located in the Walikale and Lubutu territories.…

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Two New Grauer's Gorillas Orphans

[Translate to EN:] Isangi mit ihrem Pfleger

On September 13, 2012, a young gorilla was brought to the Kahuzi-Biega National Park headquarters by a community conservation group, who claimed to…

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Orphaned Gorilla Care

[Translate to EN:] Jan Ramer, rechts, bei der Untersuchung von Shamavu

Gorilla confiscations are on the rise in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. So far this year 3 eastern lowland, or Grauer’s gorillas have been…

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New Gorilla Orphan Confiscated

Ihirwe

A new orphan gorilla infant arrived in the night on Sunday, August 7th, 2011, at the care facility in Kinigi, Rwanda operated by the Dian Fossey…

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Wildlife Trafficking in Gabon

Chimpanzee and gorilla hands confiscated during the operation in January 2011 (© Luc Mathot)

The critical situation of the elephants and the great apes, and their role in the regeneration of the tropical forest, are well documented and…

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Gorilla Killers Arrested in Congo

Hands of gorillas killed by a poacher in northern Congo (© PROGEPP – Projet Gestion des Ecosystèmes Périphériques au Parc National Nouabalé-Ndoki)

Two men were recently arrested in the Kabo forestry concession in northern Republic of Congo for hunting a gorilla. The hunt was carried out during…

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The Aspinall Foundation's Project in Gabon

Sophie with Antsia, Mbundu and Tonga (© PPG Gabon)

Over the last 12 years, UK-charity The Aspinall Foundation has been running a unique western lowland gorilla rehabilitation and reintroduction project…

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Bushmeat Investigation Trip

Logging concessions around the Nouabalé-Ndoki National Park (© Angela Meder)

Republic of Congo: in March 2009 I made a tour of the various markets in Ouesso, and for the first time realized the real ubiquity of bushmeat in that…

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Wildlife Crime in Cameroon and Operations' Impact

Abong Mbang, January 2008 (© LAGA)

Illegal trade in apes is an issue that has suffered from great confusion and lack of knowledge for a very long time. While endless popular bushmeat…

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Orphan Gorilla Reintroduction

Reintroduced Gorillas

Wildlife Law Enforcement in Cameroon

Bushmeat and People’s Health

Bushmeat Update

AFECOGO and UGADEC

Zoos Fight the Bushmeat Problem