For many years, destruction of habitat has been seen as the major threat to wildlife, and indeed logging and unsustainable agricultural expansion is a serious threat in the bonobo habitat. However, the most overwhelming and pervasive threat to bonobos today is bushmeat hunting. Commercial hunting for wild animal meat has become the most significant immediate threat to the future of wildlife in Africa and around the world; it has resulted in widespread local extinctions in Asia and West Africa.

Many sections of forest are experiencing what is called "empty forest syndrome," where, the forest still appears pristine and no loggers, legal or illegal have yet arrived. Yet the forests are eerily quiet, seemingly devoid of life. Fruit falls from trees uneaten and rots on the ground. With no wildlife to eat the fruit and disperse the seeds, the forests may soon die.

It is estimated that each year, 1 million metric tons of bushmeat is killed in the Congo River Basin in Central Africa. In some areas, industrial scale hunting is occurring, with river rafts and trucks laden with primate, elephant and other carcasses moving in constant caravans to satisfy the hunger for bushmeat. In many areas bushmeat hunting provides the major source of revenue to many people.

BCI survey teams in Kokolopori have discovered what appear to be permanent hunting camps that include land cleared for agriculture to support the hunters. Well armed and organized teams from the south have been moving into the territory. Although the leaders of the new Kokolopori Reserve will ultimately be able to exercise authority to ban hunting of endangered species, it will still be an uphill struggle, and protecting Kokolopori alone does not address the overwhelming bushmeat crisis in the Congo. Education, sensibilization and alternative livelihood and protein sources must be introduced.

In Lac Tumba, bushmeat hunting is pervasive. The riverine system provides easy access to the Mbandaka and Kinshasa bushmeat markets, and weapons and ammunition flow easily from Congo Brazzaville.

BCI is working with Congolese partners to develop education campaigns and monitoring programs to protect the bonobo and other endangered species. We are on the front line and need support for educational materials, field equipment and staff support for eco-rangers.

In addition, the threat of logging looms large and we cannot underestimate its dangers. Roads developed by loggers provide access to the forest and create an exponential increase in bushmeat hunting.

Please help support this important work. [Click Here].

To learn more about the bushmeat crisis. [Bushmeat Crisis Task Force]

CREF (Centre de Recherche en Ecologie et Forestrie) team members with primate "bushmeat" at Lac Tumba. Team members are also holding educational materials. One can see the anger and frustration on their faces. Our programs will only be successful if we can motivate, educate and support dedicated Congolese such as our CREF partners to take the lead in these efforts.