Abstract:
Bushmeat consumption and trade plays a relevant role in many tropical countries as
a source of protein and income for rural populations. In Madagascar, rural populations
depend heavily on natural resources and wildlife as source of income and protein. The
bushpig (Potamochoerus larvatus) is the largest mammal available in the island and
regularly hunted. However, little is known about the importance and characteristics of
this activity and its implication as a potential source of pathogens for both humans
and domestic animals. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2014–2015 in five
different regions of rural Madagascar suspected to have significant bushpig populations
to (i) quantify and characterize the importance of bushpig hunting, (ii) assess the
socioeconomic impact of bushpig trade, (iii) evaluate the potential pathogen transmission
between bushpigs, domestic pigs and humans. A total of 77 hunters, 10 butchers and 95
pig farmers were individually interviewed. Hunting seasonality and the perception of local
hunters with regards to the dynamics of bushpig populations in the last decade differed
between the tropical dry and tropical sub-arid climatic zones. The top reason for hunting
bushpigs was crop protection but personal consumption and selling of meat were also
common. Hunting efficacy was largely dependent on the technique used. Snares and
traps, the most widely used techniques, allowed the majority of hunters to catch from
one to 10 bushpigs per year. Limited commercial bushpig trade was observed with only
0.8 bushpig sold in average per year and per hunter, representing a 16 USD income.
The average price per kilo sold was USD 0.8 and the average profit received by each
butcher/collector after the sale of a carcass was USD 11.9. No perception of disease risks
nor precautions were taken to prevent potential pathogen transmission from bushpig to
humans or pigs. Most of the hunters (68%) indicated that they had never seen a diseased bushpig. Bushpig hunting in our study areas in Madagascar was basically a small-scale
subsistence hunting, very different fromcommercial bushmeat hunting described in areas
of Central Africa or the Amazon Basin. More research is needed to verify the sustainability
of bushpig hunting and its potential role in terms of reducing pressure on other endemic
wildlife species and transmitting pathogens to humans and pigs.
Description:
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be
made available by the authors, without undue reservation.
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 1: Survey questionnaire hunter N°
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 2: Survey questionnaire Pig farmers N°
SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL 3: Survey questionnaire bushpig Retailer/Butcher N° : °