This archive report was first published on 9 October 2019.
Published on October 9, 2019, by REUTERS
Every month, Mohamed Esimbo Matongu embarks on a perilous journey into the heart of the Congo Basin, armed with a homemade rifle and a determination to provide for his family.
As a government agency employee, Matongu's monthly salary of $75 is barely enough to cover the needs of his wife, four daughters, two brothers, and nephew who live under his roof.
So, he turns to hunting wild animals, selling most of what he kills to make ends meet. But his actions are part of a larger problem – the emptying of Central Africa's forests at an alarming rate.
According to researchers, around 6 million tonnes of bushmeat are sourced annually from the Congo Basin, which spans across six countries and is second in size only to the Amazon.
Locals and researchers alike agree that the impact on wildlife numbers is clear. Animals from many species are disappearing around villages, and protected species like bonobo apes and pangolins are regularly killed due to a lack of government oversight.
Matongu's story is not unique. Many hunters, like Celestin, a conservation student in Mbandaka, are forced to choose between providing for their families and protecting the animals.
“Hunting some species is prohibited, I know that, but it allows me to pay my university fees and provide for my family,” Celestin said.
For Matongu, the decision is clear. He needs the income from selling bushmeat to survive. “How am I supposed to provide for so many people? Sometimes I don’t even get paid at the end of the month,” he said.
