Ben Pook, MSN Environment Contributor

How illegal bushmeat ends up in the UK

Gorillas are being hunted in increasing numbers in the Congo (image © London Zoo)

It is the billion pound trade that is wiping out endangered species such as gorillas. MSN Environment takes a closer look at bushmeat.

What is bushmeat?

‘Bushmeat’ is a term given to the meat of wild, undomesticated animals that are hunted in the warm tropical regions of Africa, Asia and South America.

The most commonly hunted are apes and rodents; although any terrestrial wild animal can be regarded as bushmeat. Animals such as elephants and crocodiles are often regarded as a source of food or are alternatively sold for commercial purposes.

Why is it eaten?

Bushmeat has been a source of food for thousands of years and certain tribes continue to rely on wild animals for a means of survival. However, in some areas it is becoming unsustainable.

Africa is not the alone in consuming wild meat. Despite international efforts to stamp out the trade, gorilla, chimpanzee and other sources of bushmeat continue to be sold in Western markets too.

Bushmeat in the UK

Environmental experts estimate the UK trade alone to be worth £1 billion a year.

Last year in the UK, the import of illegal meat fell by 27%. However behavioural patterns indicate that although there are a fewer number of people importing the meat, per person, the quantity has increased from 3.8kg to 5.4kg.

There have been various crackdowns on the illegal trade in recent years. In 2001, Dalston Market in Hackney, east London, was raided by customs officers and two stall owners were convicted for smuggling illegal bushmeat.

Bushmeat and the ZSL

The Bushmeat and Forests Conservation Programme, managed by the ZSL (Zoological Society of London), is campaigning to stop the import of bushmeat and to prevent occurrences similar to Dalston from ever happening again.

It runs gorilla conservation projects in West Africa as well as helping to stop the illegal trade. MSN caught up with conservationist Dr Koelle Kumpel to find out more in an exclusive video interview.

Further Reading

Photos: The gorillas at London Zoo

London Zoological Society: Find out more about bushmeat

Video: MSN meets the gorilla conservationist