Bushmeat in
Eastern Africa

The actions of many people across eastern Africa are having an enormous impact on wildlife populations and the services they provide.

Although leading wildlife authorities work hard in their efforts to address illegal hunting, the capacity to address this problem is limited.

Many citizens are not aware that there is a bushmeat problem or what the problem is. Recent studies have determined that across Southern Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya there is a widespread, growing, illegal trade in wildlife for meat and money. This over-hunting is causing a reduction in numbers and diversity of wildlife.

In Kenya bushmeat hunting snare hunting is widespread with thousands of snares being recovered each year from protected areas and game ranches. Wildlife policy is under review and going by the current debate, there is no sign that bushmeat management will be given the attention it deserves.

In Southern Sudan bushmeat hunting with rifles is widespread in and around protected areas where many citizens rely on bushmeat as a source of protein and income. Lack of capacity to manage over-hunting has resulted in decline of many wildlife species including elephant, buffalo, zebra and giraffe.

In Tanzania trophy and subsistence hunting is legally allowed in wildlife areas outside the National Parks and Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This type of consumptive wildlife utilization is controlled through quota and permit system, however, with limited capacity to manage illegal hunting.

In Uganda studies have shown declines in wildlife populations including hippopotamus, buffalo and elephant in protected areas due to hunting.

Reviews of wildlife professionals in Uganda and Tanzania have found that there is need for improvement in understanding of wildlife laws and governance systems. Laws do not adequately take into account the economic and other values of wildlife and require revision.