Wildlife and development, contribution to the fight against poverty the case study of the hunting in Senegal Faune sauvage et developpement, contribution a la lutte contre la pauvrete le cas de la chasse au Senegal
Diop, P.A.
Game and Wildlife Science 21(4): 633-641
2004
Document Number: 246994
In Africa, many human populations cannot get their diets by themselves. Hunting must be considered as an activity that allows to get food and to fight against poverty, thanks to the economic resources it provides. In Senegal, 2,724 hunters (88% tourists) hunted 115,337 game individuals in 2003 (96% "small" game, such as hares, Lepus crawshayi, warthogs, Phacochoerus aethiopicus, etc.). The corresponding biomass production was 2.571 kg/year/km2. Per hunting season, the meat production acquired by legal hunting is estimated at 29 tons and by poaching at 31 tons, i.e. 11% of the total consummation. Locally, this meat acquired by poaching can amount to 0.09 kg per day and per person. Unless a sustainable use process is implemented, the future of the ecosystem, and of the wildlife in particular, may be compromised and all efforts made until now will be useless.