The bush meat and conservation status of the African dwarf crocodile Osteolaemus tetraspis

Abstract

Bush meat markets and habitat encroachment are on the increase, and the current demand for crocodilian bush meat is not sustainable. Of the three species of African crocodiles, the dwarf crocodile, Osteolaemus tetraspis, is by far the most heavily hunted. This preference is influenced by its small size and relatively non-aggressive nature, which facilitates easy capture, and further it stays alive while being transported to markets. The location of bush meat markets is determined by human population density and infrastructure. In general, a lack of infrastructure, whether it be a river or a paved road, implies only subsistence hunting. Many officially protected areas, where animals should be safe from depredation by humans, are not actually safe havens for O. tetraspis. There is often a lack of protection inside and around national parks in Central Africa, and when conducting research into this specific species, it was found that often more animals can be found per day in a bush meat market, compared with the same amount of effort in a national park. Crocodile mortality caused by people, both deliberate and inadvertent, must be controlled. However, conservation should be within the realms of politics, economics, ecology and social problems at a local level. Copyright