Wild Meat Consumption and Motivations in Asia CPW FORUM 21 NOVEMBER 2018 SARAH B. FERGUSON- TRAFFIC VIET NAM DIRECTOR A hotspot for Critically Endangered vertebrates Mammals Jenkins et al 2013 Status of Wildlife Trade in Asia Consumer, transit, source Domestic and international consumers Physical and online markets Cultural/traditional drivers Environmental laws are confusing and numerous Political will/corruption Species in the wild meat trade • Barking Deer •Sambar • Saola •Serow • Bearded Pig This•Assamese is a macaque •Orangutan •Goral • Sun Bear Shared•Delacourts langur •Asiatic Black Bear Problem•Takin • Monitor Lizards •Musk deer • Freshwater Turtles •Malayan sun bear •Civets •Pangolin •Marine turtles and more… Pangolins One of the most commonly encountered mammals in Asia’s illegal wildlife trade As populations decline in traditional hunting sites - sources and trade routes shift to adapt. Pangolin seizures Malaysia 22,200 pangolins traded in 13 months China parts and pieces from 10,460 pangolins seized in18 months 104,600 pangolins traded in 18-months Pangolin Seizures Involving Viet Nam* Year No. of Seizures Weight (kg) Items 19 436 2018^ 12 2449.9 327 bodies live 2017 12 589.50 255 2016 3 15 8 1,504 TOTAL 27 3054.40 590 kg scale s * Seizures made in Viet Nam, made elsewhere going to/coming from Viet Nam, and/or involving Vietnamese nationals. ^ The 2018 figures given are current as of 30 June 2018 Rhino Seizures Involving Viet Nam* Year No. of Weight (kg) Horns/Horn 76 Seizures Pieces 93 horn 2018^ 3 27.92 12 horns piece 2017 10 199.28 124 s 2016 6 64.80 33 Total TOTAL 19 292 169 weight = 292kg * Seizures made in Viet Nam, made elsewhere going to/coming from Viet Nam, and/or involving Vietnamese nationals. ^ The 2018 figures given are current as of 30 June 2018 Wild Meat Trade: Malaysia 2012 No of shops selling State Julau wild meat Sarawak 88 Sabah 83 Johor 54 Pahang 35 Perak 29 Selangor 13 © TRAFFIC SEA Sarikei Kelantan 8 Melaka 8 Sarikei Kedah 7 Negeri Sembilan 3 Penang 3 Terengganu 1 © TRAFFIC SEA TOTAL 332 Pangolin Trade Routes Involving Viet Nam • January 2016 – June 2018 • Total number of incidents mapped = 15 Borneo has become a major source of wild pangolins for the trade Motivations case studies WildCommon Meat motivations Traditional medicine properties: Crocodile meat improves asthma, wild boar warms the body to fight disease, and pangolin soup increases lifespan. Human/ wildlife conflict: The monkeys would come in large groups of up to 20 and wreak havoc with the fruits. Once the fruits are bruised or smashed, they are no longer saleable. India “…wild meat is not contaminated like the meat of domestic animals that eat refuse around the villages” Motivations Tribal rituals Gifting of fresh or dried wild meat Weddings and other special occasions Priests offer at ceremonies Certain species that have valuable commercial parts are hunted primarily for sale Who hunts? People begin hunting from the age of 10–12 years and most continue hunting while their health permits Indiscriminate harvest Methods include: Number of animals hunted/eaten based on: catapults (for birds and squirrels) frequency of hunting traps on the village farms remoteness of village bows and arrows awareness of law spears use of guns metal noose use of traps pitfall box log-fall guns China and Viet Nam “The opportunities provided by newly mobile domestic tourists have been fully exploited by the locals and the creation and marketing of expensive 'traditional specialities' by savvy entrepreneurs has contributed to the availability of wildmeat around popular tourist destinations.” Who consumes? Consumed mostly by successful, high-income, high-status males of all ages and educational levels Motivations Rare and precious: Expensive: demonstrates wealth and used to show respect status communicate prestige fashionable obtain social leverage luxurious demonstrate competence negotiating deals and initiating new business relations important where a projected image is critical to social success Farmed vs Wild The increase in farmed wild meat seems to encourage status consumers to place greater emphasis on wildness in order to communicate prestige Common themes Wild meat is considered healthier than farmed or domestic meat Targeted techniques (gun, crossbow) increase yield of specific species Demand drives supply Thank You! [email protected] Special thanks to Sasket Badola and Serene Chng and to FAO for inviting me to speak .