Urban Household Meat Consumption Patterns in Gabon, Central Africa, with a Focus on Bushmeat

Abstract

In Central Africa, bushmeat is commonly consumed, although its importance relative to other meats is incompletely understood. The urban demand for bushmeat is thought to be fueling the unsustainable trade of wildlife. In July–August 2010, 205 households were surveyed in Port-Gentil, Gabon, to describe meat consumption patterns and bushmeat acquisition practices. Using a three-day recall period, poultry and fish were consumed most frequently (86% and 84% of all households, respectively), compared to beef (44%), pork (25%), and bushmeat (24%). Small non-human primates represented a large proportion of the bushmeat consumed. Most of the bushmeat was acquired fresh and consumed boiled within 12 hours of purchase. Income was an important determinant for fish, bushmeat, and beef consumption. Finally, bushmeat was more frequently consumed on Sundays. This article reinforces the importance of considering economic factors when assessing determinants of household meat consumption in the central African urban setting.

Keywords:

• meat consumption
• bushmeat handling
• urban households
• Gabon

Acknowledgments

We thank research assistants Moungala Roméo Herman, Okouyi Clency, and Djengoué Désiré Serge. We also thank all household respondents for their collaboration. Finally, we thank the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique et Technologique for approving this research project. We also wish to dedicate this article to our beloved and respected friend and colleague Dr. Lucie Dutil, who passed away during the final preparation phase of this article.