Hunting is essential for securing access to energy and nutrients by rural and urban populations throughout the tropics. The hunting patterns of urban hunters are unknown, and we do not know how much they resemble or differ from rural hunters. On the other hand social factors that influence hunting choice of these hunters are still largely unclear. Here we analyzed the impact of socioeconomic and cultural factors on frequency and composition of species hunted by urban and rural Amazonian hunters. Within 10 municipalities in western Amazonia in Brazil, we interviewed 49 urban hunters and 57 rural hunters. A total of 44 species were cited as hunted. Our analyses showed that the probability of engaging in sport hunting (for recreation) was greater in urban hunters. Rural inhabitants, who had overall incomes lower than urban hunters, and were non-practicing Christians and Atheists hunted more frequently. Species hunted or preferred were similar independently of the livelihood or religion of the urban or rural hunters. However, we found that hunting frequency was influenced by the hunters’ socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, which did not affect the composition of the harvest. This similarity between urban and rural hunters might be related to species distribution and availability and could potentially impact the most hunted species if hunting grounds overlap. Understanding hunting patterns, especially those of urban hunters can be used to manage hunting activities more effectively, improve law enforcement against illegal hunting as well as develop more effective conservation strategies.
Tag: religion
Of meat and ritual: Consumptive and religious uses of pangolins in Mali
While a few studies have now investigated the local uses of pangolins in several West African countries, knowledge on the distribution and local uses of pangolins remains limited in the western-most countries (e.g. Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Sierra Leone), at the periphery of currently reported pangolin distributions. Current pangolin species ranges are delineated on the IUCN Red List by whether the species is known (or thought very likely) to occur in a given area with suitable habitat. Mali borders several pangolin range countries and is currently not listed as a pangolin range state on the IUCN Red List. Here, we review and appraise the evidence for the presence and local uses of pangolins in Mali.
The Role of Religion, Wealth, and Livelihoods in the Hunting Practices of Urban and Rural Inhabitants in Western Amazonia
Hunting by rural and urban populations is essential for securing access to protein and other nutrients throughout the tropics. The hunting patterns of urban hunters in Amazonia, and the similarities with those of rural hunters, are unclear, as are the social factors that influence hunting practices. We analyze the effects of socioeconomic and cultural factors on hunting frequency and composition of species hunted by urban and rural Amazonian hunters. We interviewed 49 urban hunters and 57 rural hunters within 10 municipalities in western Amazonia in Brazil. A total of 44 species were cited as hunted. Our analyses show that the probability of engaging in sport hunting (for recreation) is greater among urban hunters. Rural inhabitants, hunters with lower monetary incomes, and hunters who were non-practicing Christians and atheists hunted more frequently. The composition of species hunted was similar, regardless of the hunters’ livelihood (rural or urban) or religion. We found that hunting frequency is influenced by hunters’ socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, but these factors do not affect the composition of the harvest. This similarity between urban and rural hunters might be related to species distribution and availability and could potentially impact the most hunted species if hunting grounds overlap. Understanding hunting patterns, especially those of urban hunters, allows for more effective hunting management strategies, improvements in law enforcement against illegal hunting, as well as development of more effective and sustainable conservation actions.