Journal
AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
Volume 46, Issue 3, Pages 311-319Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2028.2007.00836.x
Keywords
hunters; meat taste; protein; Serengeti; Tanzania; wild meat
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Funding
- Norwegian Council for Higher Education's Programme for Development Research and Education (NUFU)
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Although wild meat is an important source of protein across Africa, patterns and reasons for its demand are poorly defined. A study wits conducted on consumption by inhabitants of ten villages in live districts to the west of Serengeti National Park. Tanzania. The first sample of 600 villagers was systematically selected from village registers and surveyed using it questionnaire. The second sample consisted of 341 arrested illegal meat hunters. Nine species dominated by eland (Taurotragus oryx) and wildebeest (Connachaetes taurinus) in terms of meat taste and hunting vulnerability respectively were found to be most preferred or consumed. There were remarkable variations in consumption and preferences for each species amongst ethnic groups and localities. The economics of protein consumption indicates that wild meat is consistently cheaper and hence consumed more frequently than other meats. Respondents' topmost tasty meat - eland and topi (Damaliscus lunatus) - were rare: consequently, common species e.g. buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and wildebeest were the substitutes mostly consumed to supplement beef and fish. Presence of carnivore species on the menu clearly demonstrates survival techniques when availability changes. Wildlife managers should, therefore, bestow attention to the conservation of all species for a balanced ecosystem and species survival.
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