3.35 Bushmeat. Bushmeat—the meat of wild animals—is widely traded in Africa, but its consumption threatens the survival of some animals in the wild. Bushmeat is often not the first choice of consumers: They eat bushmeat only when other sources of protein are in short supply. Researchers looked at declines in 41 species of mammals in nature reserves in Ghana and at catches of fish (the primary source of animal protein) in the same region. The data appear in Table 3.7.23 Fish supply is measured in kilograms per person. The other variable is the percent change in the total “biomass” (weight in tons) for the 41 animal species in six nature reserves. Most of the yearly percent changes in wildlife mass are negative because most years saw fewer wild animals in West Africa. Follow the four-step outline (page 58) to examine whether the data support the idea that more animals are killed for bushmeat when the fish supply is low.
TABLE 3.7 Fish supply and wildlife decline in West Africa Year Fish supply (kg per person)
Biomass change (percent) Year Fish supply (kg per person)
Biomass change (percent)
1971 34.7 2.9 1985 21.3 −5.5 1972 39.3 3.1 1986 24.3 −0.7 1973 32.4 −1.2 1987 27.4 −5.1 1974 31.8 −1.1 1988 24.5 −7.1 1975 32.8 −3.3 1989 25.2 −4.2 1976 38.4 3.7 1990 25.9 0.9 1977 33.2 1.9 1991 23.0 −6.1 1978 29.7 −0.3 1992 27.1 −4.1 1979 25.0 −5.9 1993 23.4 −4.8 1980 21.8 −7.9 1994 18.9 −11.3 1981 20.8 −5.5 1995 19.6 −9.3 1982 19.7 −7.2 1996 25.3 −10.7 1983 20.8 −4.1 1997 22.0 −1.8 1984 21.1 −8.6 1998 21.0 −7.4