Drills and Diets, Consumption and Conservation– the Role of Primate Meat in Local Diets in and Around Cross River National Park, Nigeria

• The study uses household level data from four villages inand around Cross River National Park (CRNP), Nigeria to assess therole of primate meat in local livelihoods and diets. Okwangwo is anenclave community within the national park, Butatong houses theCRNP headquarters. Kanyang1 and Abo Ebam are located fartheraway from the park. 149 respondents were surveyed. Sale ofbushmeat contributed 4 percent of total cash income on average, butis important as a source of protein in the context of poorly developedlivestock systems. 98 percent of the households ate bushmeat duringthe past year and 74 percent hunted for consumption. 77 percent atemeat from primates, although this varied from 53 percent in Butatongto 97 percent in Okwangwo. Differences emerge among the villageswith less reliance on bushmeat, less hunting and a dietary shifttowards poultry in Butatong. There is no correlation between incomelevels and consumption of primate meat. The overwhelming motivefor eating primate meat was taste preferences. Solutions tounsustainable extraction of primate meat must be sourced in relationto local consumption. Improving access to animal source foods,through widening the livestock basis of local agrarian

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Social och ekonomisk geografi -- Kulturgeografi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Social and Economic Geography -- Human Geography (hsv//eng)

Keyword

bushmeat

livelihoods

hunting

consumption

conservation

livestock

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)