Author(s) :

Yves Aseke Lukuke, Pierre Okitese Onyumbe, Pierre Okitese Onyumbe, Robert Tambwe Lumumba, Jean Losaka Ngongo, Sabine Shongo Anangelo, Mukamba Kalalu, Joseph Olamba Omanguwo.

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Abstract :

Africa is home to an exceptionally rich wildlife biodiversity, but this heritage is increasingly threatened by excessive and unsustainable exploitation. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the situation is particularly alarming, with a drastic decline in populations of large mammals, several of which are now extinct or critically endangered. This study, conducted between October and December 2018 in Oman’esanga, located in the Amenga forest (Shutshe group, Lomela territory, Sankuru province), aims to assess the exploitation of wildlife and its impact on local biodiversity. A random sample of 60 hunters was surveyed. Results show that 34 species are actively hunted, primarily for economic reasons. The most targeted species include Cephalophus dorsalis, Phacochoerus africanus, Cercopithecus schmidti, Atherurus africanus, and Tragelaphus scriptus. However, the exploitation is non-selective and involves destructive methods such as traps, bushfires, and firearms, undermining species regeneration and degrading natural habitats. The study reports the local extinction of five species, including the elephant (Loxodonta africana) and the lion (Panthera leo), as well as the rarity of eight others and the imminent threat of extinction for nine additional species, including the Congo peafowl (Afropavo congensis). Some local conservation initiatives are emerging, such as the formal ban on hunting certain emblematic species. Nonetheless, the lack of effective regulation, widespread rural poverty, and easy access to firearms continue to exert intense pressure on wildlife populations. This research highlights the urgent need to develop participatory and sustainable resource management policies that incorporate local knowledge to preserve wildlife biodiversity in rural areas like Oman’esanga

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