The scale of illegal meat importation from Africa to Europe via Paris
Open accessAbstract
Concerns have been raised about the illegal import of bushmeat from Africa into Europe, particularly regarding the health risks posed to people and livestock. The role of international trade in driving unsustainable hunting in source countries is unknown, but generally assumed to be limited. Here, we present the first systematic study of the scale and nature of this international trade. We estimate that around five tonnes of bushmeat per week is smuggled in personal baggage through Paris Roissy‐Charles de Gaulle airport. Bushmeat is not only imported for personal consumption but is part of a lucrative organized trade, with high prices indicating luxury status. A wide range of species is carried, many of which are CITES‐listed. Based on these findings, we suggest ways in which customs, airlines, and airport authorities could reduce imports, focussing on raising awareness of regulations, and improving surveillance and deterrence, particularly where CITES‐listed species are concerned.
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A recent study at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport in France identified eleven bushmeat species from confiscated luggage, including primates, crocodiles and pangolins.
“A recent study at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, in France, researchers identified eleven bushmeat species from confiscated luggage, including primates, crocodiles and pangolins and estimated that around 270 tonnes of bushmeat passing unchecked through a single European airport per year (Chaber et al. 2010)”
From Empty forests, empty stomachs? Bushmeat and livelihoods in the Congo and Amazon Basins (2011) · cites this paper as Chaber et al. 2010
The Central African Republic, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo were identified as the main sources of bushmeat in the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport study.
“The Central African Republic, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo were identified as the main sources of bushmeat.”
From Empty forests, empty stomachs? Bushmeat and livelihoods in the Congo and Amazon Basins (2011) · cites this paper as Chaber et al. 2010
Around 270 tonnes of bushmeat pass unchecked through a single European airport per year.
“A recent study at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, in France, researchers identified eleven bushmeat species from confiscated luggage, including primates, crocodiles and pangolins and estimated that around 270 tonnes of bushmeat passing unchecked through a single European airport per year (Chaber et al. 2010)”
From Empty forests, empty stomachs? Bushmeat and livelihoods in the Congo and Amazon Basins (2011) · cites this paper as Chaber et al. 2010
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Empty forests, empty stomachs? Bushmeat and livelihoods in the Congo and Amazon Basins
Nasi, R., Taber, A., & Van Vliet, N. (2011) · International Forestry Review · doi:10.1505/146554811798293872 · Cited by 457 · see citing works
Messenger, A. M., Barnes, A. N., & Gray, G. C. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0089055 · Cited by 278 · see citing works
- Authors
- Chaber, A., Allebone‐Webb, S., Lignereux, Y., Cunningham, A. A., & Marcus Rowcliffe, J.
- Affiliations
- Zoological Society of London (GB)
- École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (FR)
- Corresponding author
- Chaber, Anne‐Lise
- Venue
- Conservation Letters
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-06-07
- Volume
- 3
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 317-321
- ISSN
- 1755-263X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1528385021
- Cited by
- 208
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 33 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 12.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Conservation Letters (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
- UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
- RVC Research Online (Royal Veterinary College) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Nature and Landscape Conservation › Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Keywords
- illegal wildlife trade, wildlife trade, CITES-listed species
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