Banned bush meat business thriving in the country

The study surveyed 12 markets in Cross River where Bush meat carcass counts were conducted on a total of 371 days from 12 sampling sites over a period of three months.
The largest quantities of bush meat were found in markets at Amana, Ochon, Obudu Cattle Ranch and Abo Ogbagante.
Altogether 3,113 carcasses belonging to, at least, 21 different animal species were traded as bush meat within the survey period.
Mammals represented 95 per cent of all the bush meat sold. Small mammals represented approximately 47 per cent of the total bush meat traded with porcupine alone contributing 796 carcasses, or 26 per cent of the total number of carcasses traded.
Although most of the bush meats recorded during the survey period is believed to be harvested from within Nigeria, most of the meat sold in Amana, Utanga and Abo Ogbagante reportedly originated from Takamanda National Park in Cameroon and is said to be destined for nearby towns such as Ikom, Obudu and Ogoja, as well as Abakiliki and Vandikyia in Benue State.
Some of the bush meat recorded in Obudu and Irruan also reportedly originated from Taraba State. Within the survey period, the value of the bushmeat traded amounted to N15, 870,250 – approximately $33,000 per month.
The study which was funded by the Great Apes Programme of the Arcus Foundation noted that altogether 3,113 carcasses belonging to, at least, 21 animal species were traded as bush meat within the survey period.
Results from the study showed that porcupine was the most commonly available species in the market followed by duikers, bush pig and bats while endangered and fully protected species are being openly traded at some of these markets, including chimpanzee, drill, monkeys, pangolins, crocodiles and python.
Most of the bush meat harvested are processed and transported for sale in larger markets in Ikom, Ochon and Obudu Cattle Ranch where it can be sold at a higher price. In many of the local markets such as Amana and Utanga there are well organised bush meat traders union.
The majority of the bush meat traders are women, and very few are men. Traders purchase bush meat either fresh or smoked direct from the hunters and in most cases do the final smoking before the bush meat is brought to the market. Traders sometimes supply cartridges to the hunters where the cost of cartridges is deducted from the sale of the bush meat.
In Ikom market some of the bush meat traders reported that they supply food and cartridges to hunters in return for bush meat.  The price of bushmeat has appreciated dramatically over the last ten years, in many cases doubling in price. For instance, the price of a porcupine (Atherurus africanus) has increased from N1,500-N2,000 in 2009 to N2,500-N3,000; and that of a bush pig (Potamochoerus porcus) from N7,000-N7,500 in 2009 to N15,000.
The majority of bush meat traders are aware that certain species are protected, and that all trade in primates is illegal. However, most were not able to list any other animal which is protected by law other than primates. This may partly explain why there were so few records of primates in urban markets such as Ikom and Obudu Cattle Ranch.
Urban traders are aware of the presence of Cross River National Park, Cross River State Forestry Commission and the Anti-deforestation Task Force and much of the bush meat is sold privately.