Consumption and Trade of Asian Water Monitor, Varanus salvator as Reliance on Wildlife for Livelihoods among Rural Communities in North Sumatra, Indonesia

Abstract

The water monitor, Varanus salvator has been exploited for its skin to supply international demands for reptile leather, whereas meat, liver, and fat are consumed locally in some communities in North Sumatra. Demands for skin seems to be paralleled with meat consumption in this province for more than 25 years. We conducted direct interviews with hunters and collecting managers in five abattoirs in five towns in North Sumatra to obtain preliminary data on consumption and trade of Water monitor. Additionally, we explore the association between consumption, trade, and livelihood of rural communities. We found that lizards of all sizes were taken and processed in the abattoirs for skin and meat trade. Consumption of Water monitor meat in North Sumatra is partially driven by a cultural background and has been occurring probably longer than the skin trade for leather industry. We noted that meat of Water monitor also becomes an alternative protein source because of its lower price. In conclusions, benefits of Water monitor harvest are extended across levels of participants in the local trade, including hunters, collectors, and meat consumers. Meat consumption and skin trade are closely linked with one another in North Sumatra; nevertheless sustainability of the trade needs to be evaluated in the near future to predict demands and production capacity.

Human-Water Monitor Conflicts in Indonesia: Spatial Patterns and Mitigation Alternatives

“…The use of hunting dogs was an example of a proven method that could multiply the captured animals (Yudha et al, 2022). Another technique that can be implemented in urban areas is by using snare traps (Arida et al, 2020). The capture of water monitors in residential areas should be organized by the authorities or non-profit organizations.…”

“…On the other hand, water monitor meat in North Sumatra is a by-product of skin trade. Families in this region regularly consume water monitor meat as an alternative source of protein (Arida et al, 2020). Moreover, Batak tribes of North Sumatra consume water monitor meat as "tambul", a complementary snack to their social drinking culture (Fentiana, 2019).…”

“…The IUCN Red List considered V. salvator as a species of least concern (Quah et al, 2021), however their harvest and trade is regulated by quota system (MoEF, 2022). The commercial harvest of wild water monitors is mainly for its skin to supply international demand for luxury leather goods (Arida et al, 2020;Khadiejah et al, 2019). In contrast, the trade of meat and other body parts of the water monitors only occurred locally.…”

“…In contrast, the trade of meat and other body parts of the water monitors only occurred locally. A small number of ethnic groups in Indonesia consume water monitor meat as a source of protein, and a small minority people in Java Island consume the meat as a novelty-food, for medicinal purposes, and for aphrodisiac (Arida et al, 2020;Arida et al, 2021;Nijman, 2016;Uyeda et al, 2014). This demand suggests that nearly 50.000 V. salvator are needed by food stalls around Java Island annually (Nijman, 2015).…”

“…The demand for skin and meat of water monitors stimulates the commercial hunting of this species. People in North Sumatra hunt water monitors by using snare traps and sell them to abattoirs (Arida et al, 2020). In West Java, hunters form groups and use trained dogs to catch water monitors for recreational and pest controls (Yudha et al, 2022).…”