The decline in biodiversity is an alarming reality, nearly half of all primate species are threatened with extinction, and all great ape species - bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and so many others are concerned. The main threats identified in recent years are habitat destruction, poaching, situations of armed conflict and disease transmission.
The great apes have thus been the subject of numerous conservation efforts for several decades.
However, despite these efforts, the decline of their populations continues. Therefore, the present study consists in evaluating wild animal species totally protected, and clandestinely sold in the markets of Mbandaka in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Our surveys were carried out in the five markets of the city of Mbandaka distributed as follows: Sokozelo: 34, Basoko: 10, Makila: 8, Mbandaka II: 6, Mandala II: 7.
The results obtained show that:
- 79.92% of the surveyed population sells species of animals totally protected by CITES.
- Among the 45 fully protected animals, 10 or 22.2% are sold illegally in the various markets surveyed in the city of Mbandaka.
- 81% of sellers of meat from protected animals do not know CITES laws, on the other hand 18.4% of these sellers have an idea about knowledge of CITES laws.
- The absence of functional structures likely to ensure the application of the law on wildlife conservation in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- No environmental information and education, as well as awareness raising on wildlife conservation and protection in Equateur province.
- Poor popularization of CITES laws on the conservation and protection of fully protected species in Equateur Province.
- Complicity of park eco-guards with poachers.