Differences between Pygmy and Non-Pygmy Hunting in Congo Basin Forests

Abstract

We use data on game harvest from 60 Pygmy and non-Pygmy settlements in the Congo Basin forests to examine whether hunting patterns and prey profiles differ between the two hunter groups. For each group, we calculate hunted animal numbers and biomass available per inhabitant, P, per year (harvest rates) and killed per hunter, H, per year (extraction rates). We assess the impact of hunting of both hunter groups from estimates of numbers and biomass of prey species killed per square kilometre, and by examining the proportion of hunted taxa of low, medium and high population growth rates as a measure of their vulnerability to overhunting. We then map harvested biomass (kg-1P-1Yr-1) of bushmeat by Pygmies and non-Pygmies throughout the Congo Basin. Hunting patterns differ between Pygmies and non-Pygmies; Pygmies take larger and different prey and non-Pygmies sell more for profit. We show that non-Pygmies have a potentially more severe impact on prey populations than Pygmies. This is because non-Pygmies hunt a wider range of species, and twice as many animals are taken per square kilometre. Moreover, in non-Pygmy settlements there was a larger proportion of game taken of low population growth rate. Our harvest map shows that the non-Pygmy population may be responsible for 27 times more animals harvested than the Pygmy population. Such differences indicate that the intense competition that may arise from the more widespread commercial hunting by non-Pygmies is a far more important constraint and source of conflict than are protected areas.

Elephant and Mammoth Hunting during the Paleolithic: A Review of the Relevant Archaeological, Ethnographic and Ethno-Historical Records

“…At the Upper Palaeolithic Nikita lake site (~13,800-13,600 years ago, Arctic Siberia), a stone tool fragment was detected within a mammoth rib, suggesting the hunting of that mammoth [82]. At the Upper Paleolithic site of Kostenki (Russia), another flint tip was found embedded within a mammoth's rib [92,93].…”

“…134,498). Hunting large game for commercial purposes is often associated with the use of rifles, rather than traditional methods [82]. Lewis [54], however, reveals a different situation among the BaYaka of the Congo Basin.…”

Diversité des Espèces de Faunes Chassées et Impact sur la Biodiversité Animale (Nord-Ouest du Bénin)

“…En Afrique, la chasse pratiquée avec des moyens rudimentaires par les populations locales appelée chasse villageoise, est l'une des menaces les plus connues sur les espèces animales (Ziegler et al, 2016 ;Fa et al, 2016). En réalité, avec l'explosion démographique de ces dernières années, la population a évidemment augmenté et, pour satisfaire les multiples utilisations de la faune des populations locales (Duffy et al, 2016), des quantités d'espèces de tous ordres prélevées ont connu une forte augmentation.…”

Declining Ungulate Populations in an African Rainforest: Evidence From Local Knowledge, Ecological Surveys, and Bushmeat Records

“…Other authors have used the species composition of the animals killed by local hunters as a proxy of the sustainability of hunting (Dethier, 1995;Yasuoka et al, 2015;Fa et al, 2016). In fact, prey composition is influenced by an associated history of hunting and can serve as a good indicator of the status of the surrounding fauna and hunting levels (Dethier, 1995;Bobo et al, 2015;Taylor et al, 2015).…”

“…In fact, prey composition is influenced by an associated history of hunting and can serve as a good indicator of the status of the surrounding fauna and hunting levels (Dethier, 1995;Bobo et al, 2015;Taylor et al, 2015). Information is available on bushmeat species composition across many sites in Central Africa (Fa et al, 2005(Fa et al, , 2016Taylor et al, 2015). However, although essential to enable the development of plans for conservation, dataset over time on prey composition and abundance is rarely available for the same site.…”