Human consumption of wild animals is escalating in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and may not be sustainable for many species. This chapter describes the factors determining abundance and biomass of ungulates in African wet and moist forests. It reviews levels of extraction of antelope bushmeat in the different habitats and by species. Using data from the estimated potential production of the different African antelope species the author raise several discussion points arising from this analysis that are relevant to the broader debate about improving conservation outcomes for species of importance to many people in the continent as a protein source. Antelopes make up the major group of ungulates present in sub-Saharan Africa. Antelopes in African forests are hunted with a variety of weapons but mostly with leg-hold snares. Applying hunting regimes where rural communities are capable of regulating their pressure on a species is still to be widely implemented.

Authors: Fa, J.E.

Subjects: biomass production, hunting, tropical forests, meat, bushmeat, food consumption, eating patterns

Publication type: Chapter-R, Publication

Year: 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118409572.ch5