How to protect Wildlife and Human Health.
- Theophilus Sani
- Mar 29
- 1 min read
Updated: Apr 6
Commercial wildlife trade for consumption as food (known as “bushmeat”) or traditional medicine and keeping of wildlife as pets is prevalent in West, Central, and Southern Africa, posing a serious threat to a large range of species (e.g. Bachmann et al. 2020; Wilkie et al. 2016; Lindsey et al. 2015; Soewu et al. 2012). In addition to conservation concerns from over exploitation and often illegal hunting, this wildlife trade also results in the emergence of zoonotic diseases, such as Ebola, Lassa fever, or Mpox, with the most spillover events counted in Africa (Milbank & Vira 2022; Okareh & Morakinyo 2018). A review of global bushmeat studies (with a focus on Africa) found that of the 58 species of bushmeat investigated, 48 were found to host one or more pathogens (Peros et al. 2021).
While there is plenty of scientific evidence for risks of
zoonotic diseases related to wildlife trade (e.g. Akem
& Pemunta 2020; Kurpiers et al. 2015; Schneeberger & Voigt 2015), awareness and acceptance among suppliers and local consumer groups remains low (e.g. Lucas et al. 2022; Douno et al. 2021). Instead, bushmeat is still seen as a healthy food and consumer choices ignore the risks associated with zoonotic diseases (Nguyen et al. 2021; Chausson et al. 2019). al. 2017).
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