Bushmeat and beyond: historic and contemporary use in Africa

Abstract African pangolins have historically been exploited for bushmeat (both for sustenance and as a source of income). Their scales and other body parts have been used in traditional medicines as well as in a range of other applications (e.g., as spiritual remedies and omens). This has involved all four species, the white-bellied (Phataginus tricuspis), black-bellied (P. tetradactyla), Temminck’s (Smutsia temminckii) and giant pangolin (S. gigantea), and exploitation for these purposes continues to take place. This chapter examines the many uses of African pangolins and their impact on wild populations. Available evidence indicates that local and national use of pangolins, in particular in West and Central Africa, is likely unsustainable and contributing to populations declines. Research to quantify the impact of offtake on populations is urgently required to inform appropriate management interventions.