By JAMES BARRON

Scientists who have begun testing bushmeat - meat from African wild game, that is often carried through customs in luggage, or shipped by mail - say they have discovered viruses related to H.I.V., the virus that causes AIDS.

Dr. William Karesh, a veterinarian in charge of Wildlife Conservation Society health programs, said the viruses showed up in spot checks of "hundreds of samples" that were only a fraction of the bushmeat that comes into New York. The viruses in question have been shown to infect humans, but Dr. Kristine Smith, another veterinarian from the society, said in a presentation at Rockefeller University on Wednesday that they were not known to cause disease.

Alves, R.R.n., Souto, W.M.S. & Barboza, R.R.D. (2010) Primates in tradtional folk medicine: a world overview. Mammal Review, 40, No.2, 155-180

Abstract

1. Almost 50% of primate species are in danger of becoming extinct, according to
the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of
Threatened Species. This is partly because of their consumption by humans. The
reasons for hunting vary by region. One pretext is the medicinal or magical value of
products derived from these animals.

2. In this paper, we provide an overview of the global use of primates in traditional
folk medicines as well as identifying the species used as remedies associated with folk
beliefs. Some important questions relating to the conservation of primates are
addressed.

3. Our results revealed that at least 101 species of primates, which belong to 38
genera and 10 families, were used in traditional folk practices and in magic-religious
rituals throughout the world.

4. Of the 101 species of primates recorded in our review, 12 species were classified
as Critically Endangered, 23 as Endangered, 22 as Vulnerable, seven as Near Threatened,
36 as Least Concern and one as Data Deficient in the IUCN Red List. All species
were also included in The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora Appendices I or II, although the reasons for their inclusion
were not necessarily related to their medicinal use.

5. The widespread utilization of primates in traditional medicine is evidence of the
importance of understanding such uses in the context of primate conservation as
well as the need for considering socio-cultural factors when establishing management
plans concerning the sustainable use of these mammals.

Rare animals, including chimpanzees and gorillas, are being hunted into
extinction because of record levels of demand for bush meat, according
to a new study.


By Louise Gray, Environment Correspondent
Published: 7:00AM GMT 23 Mar 2010


Research in the Congo Basin in Africa found more than three million
tonnes of 'bush meat' is being extracted from the area every year, the
equivalent of butchering 740,000 bull elephants.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/7497703/Rare-animals-are-being-eaten-to-extinction.html

Divine Ntaryike | Douala, Cameroon 04 February 2010

Wildlife conservationists say in Cameroon, protected species are more

endangered than ever before. Experts say the continuing popularity of

wildlife meat, or bushmeat, is encouraging armed poachers to gun down

hundreds of thousands of animals. But the government has introduced new

initiatives to halt the illegal trade.