Consumption of wildlife-origin products by local residents at the largest wildlife market of Amazonian Peru: is there scope for demand reduction?

Abstract

Wildlife and wildlife-origin products are illegally traded across Peru, with negative consequences for animal welfare, conservation, human health and livelihoods. We surveyed residents of Iquitos who regularly shop at Belén Market, the largest open-air market selling wildlife in the Peruvian Amazon. We wished to assess what proportion of the local population purchases wildlife for personal use, to determine the involvement of the local population in the wider national trade of Peruvian wildlife, and to assess whether information campaigns could reduce demand for these products among local consumers. We derived 265 responses. The principal purchases were meat from domesticated animals, and fish: 89.4% of respondents bought these on every or most visits. By comparison 75.1% purchased bushmeat, but only 3.0% did so frequently, and 58.1% purchased chelonian eggs, with 95%) referencing levels of orderliness, hygiene or personal security at the market. Despite widespread consumption of bushmeat – albeit relatively infrequently - among respondents in Iquitos, many respondents to our questionnaire disliked the associated negative impacts, sufficient that making such impacts salient through repeated demand-reduction messaging might be expected to lower the likelihood of such purchases in the future. Such interventions should, however, be accompanied by action to address structural issues within the market.

Keywords

• Illegal wildlife trade
• Demand reduction
• Local consumers
• Bushmeat
• Exotic pets