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Illegal trade
People Should Take Note of Ape-Hunting. 12th September, 2006. PDF. 26 KB
It has long been known that many people in west and central Africa eat monkeys and apes. Not only is it part of the lore, it is part of the economy. Bushmeat is big business, accounting for a significant portion of the animal protein consumed in the region. An indepth year long study by Steele in Gabon found over 50% of the meat sold in markets was wild game. Gross sales were estimated at 50 million dollars. Primates account for 20% of that commerce. Ammann has observed gorillas and chimpanzees fresh from the hunt being butchered, smoked, and sold in almost every country in the region, from Korup to Kinshasa.
Indonesian Laws Against Trade in Endangered Orangutans Ignored. 16th Aug. 2006. PDF. 166 KB
Orangutans and gibbons are still traded and kept as pets on the Indonesian islands of Java and Bali in violation of national and international law, finds a new report from
the Southeast Asia branch of the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC. The study concludes that one of the main reasons why people still trade these species is that the chances of having the protected animals confiscated, or of facing legal charges, are "extremely remote."
Although it proved difficult to assess the impact of trade on the wild populations, data from 2003-2004 suggest that, conservatively, within Kalimantan, Java and Bali alone the number of Bornean Orang-utans originating from Kalimantan that appear in trade may be in the order of 200 - 500 individuals annually. The vast majority of these are (very) young individuals. Given that for each individual observed in trade, at least one other has died (i.e. its mother) this represents a significant loss to the wild population. The lowered levels of recruitment and the added losses of reproducing females are enough to bring the population in a negative spiral that will ultimately lead to its extinction. The numbers of Müller's and Bornean White-bearded Gibbon in trade constitutes at least hundreds of gibbons annually.
New Bushmeat Report Released. 17 March 2006. PDF. 78 KB
The Ape Alliance ‘Recipes for Survival: controlling the Bushmeat trade‘ report, funded by WSPA is now available for NGO‘s and governments. This review co authored by Ian Redmond, Tim Aldred, Katrin Jedamzik and Madeline Westwood set out to examine the current state of knowledge of the Bushmeat trade and how the conservation community has reacted to the Bushmeat crisis.
Photos on this website courtesy of William Calvin, Jeff Canin, Aleisha Caruso, Debby Cox, Furuichi c/o JGI Uganda, Kris Descovich, Lola Ya Bonobo sanctuary, Tony Gilding, Selby King, Carlos Schuler, Jodie Sheridan
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