12. Economic Analysis of Wildlife Use in the Peruvian Amazon

In the Amazon Basin, large rodents and medium-sized ungulates such as brocket deer and peccaries typically make up the bulk of the harvest, although the hunting of a few tapir can be very important in biomass terms.

“Similarly, in the Amazon Basin, large rodents (Dasyprocta spp.and Cunniculus paca) and medium-sized ungulates such as brocket deer (Mazama spp.) and peccaries (Tayassu pecari and Pecari tajacu.12-45 kg) typically make up the bulk of the harvest, although the hunting of a few tapir (ca.200 kg) can be very important in biomass terms (Bodmer and Lozano 2001, Bodmer et al. 2004, Ojasti 2000, Peres 200”

For hunters, the distinction between subsistence and commercial use is often blurred, with meat from the forest supplementing both diets and incomes.

“For hunters, the distinction between subsistence and commercial use is often blurred, with meat from the forest supplementing both diets and incomes (e.g.Bodmer and Lozano 2001, Bodmer et al. 2004, Kümpel et al. 2010b, 2010c).”

Bodmer et al. (2004) estimated the number of animals hunted annually in the Peruvian Amazon (Loreto region) as above 110 000.

“Bodmer et al. (2004) estimated the number of animals hunted annually in the Peruvian Amazon (Loreto region) as above 110 000 but how much of this catch is sold through open-markets is almost impossible to estimate.”