title: Conservation strategies for understanding and combating the primate bushmeat trade on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea.
abstract: Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea is among the important places in Africa for the conservation of primates, but a cultural preference for bushmeat and a lack of effective law enforcement has encouraged commercial bushmeat hunting, threatening the survival of the remaining primate population. For over 13 years, we collected bushmeat market data in the Malabo market, recording over 35,000 primate carcasses, documenting "mardi gras" consumption patterns, seasonal carcass availability, and negative effects resulting from government intervention. We also conducted forest surveys throughout Bioko's two protected areas in order to localize and quantify primate populations and hunting pressure. Using these data, we were able to document the significant negative impact bushmeat hunting had on monkey populations, estimate which species are most vulnerable to hunting, and develop ecological niche models to approximate the distribution of each of Bioko's diurnal primate species. These results also have allowed for the identification of primate hotspots, such as the critically important southwest region of the Gran Caldera Scientific Reserve, and thus, priority areas for conservation on Bioko, leading to more comprehensive conservation recommendations. Current and future efforts now focus on bridging the gap between investigators and legislators in order to develop and effectively implement a management plan for Bioko's Gran Caldera Scientific Reserve and to develop a targeted educational campaign to reduce demand by changing consumer attitudes toward bushmeat. Using this multidisciplinary approach, informed by biological, socioeconomic, and cultural research, there may yet be a positive future for the primates of Bioko.
authors.affiliation: SMART Partnership, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York.|Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Guinea Ecuatorial.
authors.forename: Drew T
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1618-1091
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Cronin
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Guinea Ecuatorial.
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Sesink Clee
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Guinea Ecuatorial.
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Guinea Ecuatorial.
authors.forename: Demetrio
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bocuma Meñe
authors.affiliation: Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Guinea Ecuatorial.|Department of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5570-8845
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.affiliation: Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Guinea Ecuatorial.
authors.forename: Cirilo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Riaco
authors.affiliation: Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Guinea Ecuatorial.|Oficina de Investigación, la Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Guinea Ecuatorial.
authors.forename: Maximiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fero Meñe
authors.affiliation: Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Guinea Ecuatorial.|Facultad del Medio Ambiente, la Universidad Nacional de Guinea Ecuatorial, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Guinea Ecuatorial.
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Esara Echube
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Guinea Ecuatorial.
authors.forename: Gail W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Hearn
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|Department of Biodiversity, Earth and Environmental Science, Drexel University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|Bioko Biodiversity Protection Program, Malabo, Bioko Norte, Guinea Ecuatorial.
authors.forename: Mary Katherine
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Gonder
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016703:Equatorial Guinea; D006801:Humans; D007881:Legislation, Food; D008460:Meat; D011323:Primates
keywords: Bioko; bushmeat; conservation; ecological niche models; hunting; red colobus