Title
The impacts of cable snare hunting on wildlife populations in the forests of the Central African Republic
Author(s)
Noss A.J.
Published
1998
Publisher
Conservation Biology
Abstract
Cable snares are probably the most widespread bunting method used in central African forests today. I evaluated the impacts of cable snare hunting on wildlife in the Central African Republic. I accompanied 17 snare hunters to bunting camps to check snare lines. I identified and weighed all animals captured, recorded losses to decomposition and scavengers, and identified escaped animals when possible. Data from observed hunting activities were extrapolated to estimate the animal rate of hunting offtake from snares within the Bayanga snare hunting range of 1000 km2. All mammals, as well as several birds and reptiles, were captured in cable snares. But 75% of snare captures were of four species: the three duikers (Cephalophus callipygus, C. dorsalis, and C. monticola) and the brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus). Losses to scavengers and decomposition amounted to 27% of total captures. Over one-third of animals caught by cable snares broke the cable and escaped with an injury. Protected species represent 2% of animals caught by snares. Population densities for the three duiker species and the brush-tailed porcupine were estimated from line-transect surveys and net-hunt encounters. Additional density estimates front research sites elsewhere in central Africa were taken from the literature, as were figures on reproductive productivity. The wide range of estimates for population densities, reproductive productivity, and sustainable offtake rates make the sustainability of snare hunting difficult to assess; however, snare hunting is probably unsustainable for the three duiker species.
Keywords
forest; hunting; snare; sustainability; wildlife; Central African Republic
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PUB12879