Capture, Movement, Trade, and Consumption of Mammals in Madagascar.

Wild meat trade constitutes a threat to many animal species. Understanding the commodity chain of wild animals (hunting, transportation, trade, consumption) can help target conservation initiatives. Wild meat commodity chain research has focused on the formal trade and less on informal enterprises, although informal enterprises contribute to a large portion of the wild meat trade in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the formal and informal components of these commodity chains by focusing on the mammalian wild meat trade in Madagascar. Our objectives were to: (1) identify hunting strategies used to capture different wild mammals; (2) analyze patterns of movement of wild meat from the capture location to the final consumer; (3) examine wild meat prices, volumes, and venues of sale; and (4) estimate the volume of wild meat consumption. Data were collected in May-August 2013 using semi-structured interviews with consumers (n = 1343 households, 21 towns), meat-sellers (n = 520 restaurants, open-air markets stalls, and supermarkets, 9 towns), and drivers of inter-city transit vehicles (n = 61, 5 towns). We found that: (1) a wide range of hunting methods were used, though prevalence of use differed by animal group; (2) wild meat was transported distances of up to 166 km to consumers, though some animal groups were hunted locally (<10 km) in rural areas; (3) most wild meat was procured from free sources (hunting, gifts), though urban respondents who consumed bats and wild pigs were more likely to purchase those meats; and (4) wild meat was consumed at lower rates than domestic meat, though urban respondents consumed wild meat twice as much per year compared to rural respondents. Apart from the hunting stage, the consumption and trade of wild meat in Madagascar is also likely more formalized than previously thought

Distances that meat was transported prior to consumption.

<p>Data taken from meat consumption interviews. Distances that meat was transported to, or that urban and rural consumers traveled, to (A) procure wild meat as a gift, from hunting, or purchase; and (B) domestic and wild meat purchased from restaurants, markets, hunters, and middlemen. The whiskers extend to data points within 1.5 times the interquartile range; black circles indicate outliers. Towns are replicates. ND: No Data; UW: Urban seller of wild meat; UD: Urban seller of domestic meat; RW: Rural seller of wild meat; RD: Rural seller of domestic meat.</p

Comparison of hunting methods used to capture wild mammals for sale and for personal consumption (percentages).

<p>Individuals are replicates; data taken from meat consumption interviews. Hands = catching with hands by one or multiple people. Trap/Net = includes nets, cable traps, bait with traps. Spit Tube = a blow tube or a device to shoot darts. Stick = includes hitting animal with stick or spearing animal with stick. Individuals are replicates. Other = includes all other hunting methods (e.g. slingshots, fire, using a cross bow).</p

Hunting methods used pre-2009 and between 2009–2013 for (A) urban- and (B) rural hunters (percentages).

<p>Data taken from meat consumption interviews. Only animal groups with ≥5 respondents in each time class are presented. Individuals are replicates. Hands = catching with hands by one or multiple people. Trap/Net = includes nets, cable traps, bait with traps. Spit Tube = a blow tube or a device to shoot darts. Stick = includes hitting animal with stick or spearing animal with stick. Individuals are replicates. Other = includes other hunting methods (e.g. fire, using a cross bow).</p

Hunting methods used to capture wild mammals by urban (1A) and rural (1B) respondents (percentages).

<p>Individuals are replicates; data taken from meat consumption interviews. Hands = catching with hands by one or multiple people. Trap/Net = includes nets, cable traps, bait with traps. Spit Tube = a blow tube or a device to shoot darts. Stick = includes hitting animal with stick or spearing animal with stick. Individuals are replicates. Other = includes other hunting methods (e.g. fire, using a cross bow).</p

Conceptual commodity chain models (A) and the sources from which consumers procure wild meat (B).

<p>The commodity chain (A) is not always linear and does not always include all actors; for example, in some cases, the consumer is also the hunter. In image (B) there are two tiers of arrows; the arrows that connect peripheral boxes to the “purchase” and “free” boxes represent direct quantities measured (black arrows) while the arrows connecting the “purchase” and “free” boxes to the consumer represent sums of the peripheral boxes of each type (gray arrows).</p

Urban towns in central and northern Madagascar where interviews were conducted.

<p>The shaded rectangle shows the location of rural towns (in the vicinity of the Ankarana National Park) where interviews were conducted but exact locations are not shown to protect respondent anonymity. Figure originally published in Reuter et al. 2015 [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0150305#pone.0150305.ref027" target="_blank">27</a>].</p

Time of year when respondents hunt for different types of wild mammals (individuals are replicates).

<p>Sample sizes are listed for each animal group. Data taken from meat consumption interviews. Quarter 1: January-March; Quarter 2: April-June; Quarter 3: July-September; Quarter 4: October-December.</p

Table of study sites included in research project.

<p>Table of study sites included in research project.</p