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Wild Meat Trade and Consumption in the Central Amazon, Brazil

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Abstract

Many factors drive wildlife hunting and consumption, including source of income, taste preference, culture, lack of alternative meat, meat price, and wealth, and the relative importance of these factors may vary from place to place. We describe three aspects of wild meat consumption and trade in the town of Tapauá, central Amazon, Brazil: (1) factors associated with consumption of wild and domesticated meats; (2) consumers’ knowledge of and attitude toward wildlife, preference for meat, and perceptions about changes in wild and domesticated meat consumption; and (3) patterns of wildlife trade. We found that preference, price, wealth, and occupation were associated with meat consumption. Social links played an important role in local trade. Decreasing price and diversifying domesticated meat alternatives may lead to a decrease in wild meat consumption, if alternatives function as substitutes. Outreach could improve understanding of wildlife ecology and conservation and encourage reduction in wild meat consumption while retaining local culture. Fostering alternative livelihoods for hunters could help reduce hunting pressure.

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The data used for this article are available from the correspoding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgments

We thank N. Markstein, F. Silva, M. Costa, F. Alves, M. Bias, R. Freitas, and A. Santos for help with data collection and P. Coward for help with data management. We thank M.C.M. and K.E.S. lab members for helpful insights. We also thank B. Sadowsky for help with design of this research. This research was funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Wildlife Without Borders – Latin American and the Caribbean Program) and Idea Wild. Instituto Piagaçu, Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and WCS-Brazil provided in-kind support. School of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, Grinter Fellowship Program [University of Florida], and Dexter Fellowship Program in Tropical Conservation Biology supported W.A.C.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    Willandia A. Chaves

  2. Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, 320 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, 32611, FL, USA

    Willandia A. Chaves & Kathryn E. Sieving

  3. Instituto Piagaçu, Manaus, Brazil

    Willandia A. Chaves

  4. Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs, Princeton University, 3-C-8a Green Hall, Princeton, NJ, 08540, USA

    Willandia A. Chaves

  5. School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, 347 Newins-Ziegler Hall, Gainesville, 32611, FL, USA

    Martha C. Monroe

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  1. Willandia A. Chaves
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Chaves, W.A., Monroe, M.C. & Sieving, K.E. Wild Meat Trade and Consumption in the Central Amazon, Brazil. Hum Ecol 47, 733–746 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10745-019-00107-6

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