Fading Roars? A Survey of the Cultural Use and Illegal Trade in Wild Felid Body Parts in Côte d’Ivoire
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Panthera Senegal, Tambacounda 26500, Senegal
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Office Ivoirien des Parcs et Réserves (OIPR), Abidjan 06 BP 426, Côte d’Ivoire
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Ecole Doctorale Biologie-Environnement, Santé Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan 01 BP 34, Côte d’Ivoire
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Institute for Communities and Wildlife in Africa (iCWild), University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
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Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR), University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
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Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2025, 15(3), 451; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030451
Submission received: 29 November 2024
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Revised: 27 January 2025
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Accepted: 28 January 2025
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Published: 6 February 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wildlife Trade: Threats, Challenges, and Strategies for Prevention of Illegal Trade)
Simple Summary
The illegal trade in wild felids is a serious threat to their survival in West Africa, including in Côte d’Ivoire. From April to June 2024, we conducted an exploratory study in 16 towns and villages across Côte d’Ivoire to understand the characteristics and some of the general drivers of the illegal trade in wild cat products. We surveyed 46 markets and interviewed 39 sellers and 14 users of felid products. We discovered that more than 80% of the cities visited had wild felid products for sale, nearly half of the markets were selling leopard parts and 25% were selling lion parts. This trade was mostly driven by the demand for body parts used in traditional medicine and cultural practices, with leopards and lions having high cultural significance. Sellers and users indicated that most products were sourced from northern neighboring countries, even if some countries in other African regions were also mentioned. We recommend continuing to monitor the illegal wildlife trade through the development of regional databases and enhanced market and consumer survey protocols. Additionally, targeted behavioral change campaigns should be implemented to address corruption, increase enforcement agencies’ capacity and interest in tackling the illegal wildlife trade, and shift the practices of traditional practitioners toward sustainable alternatives.
Abstract
The illegal trade in leopard and lion parts is a major threat to felid conservation across Africa, especially in under-researched areas like francophone West Africa. Between April and June 2024, we conducted surveys in 16 cities and 46 markets in Côte d’Ivoire, interviewing 39 sellers and 14 users of felid products. We found leopard and lion parts in 42.7% and 25% of stalls, respectively. The illegal trade is driven by the demand for felid products for traditional purposes, with both species holding strong symbolic values. Products were often trafficked through informal networks and sourced from Sahelian neighboring countries like Mali and Burkina Faso. We identified some key trade routes across West Africa and beyond. Without effective control measures, this illegal trade could accelerate the decline of West Africa’s remaining large felid populations. We recommend establishing a regional database of confiscated felid parts for genetic tracing and developing standardized questionnaires for use during traffickers’ arrests to gain further insights into their operations. Additionally, targeted behavioral change campaigns should be implemented to address corruption, increase enforcement agencies’ interest and capacity, and shift the practices of traditional practitioners toward sustainable alternatives. Training law enforcement officers, raising awareness among key communities, and increasing cross-border collaboration and controls are critical to providing a more comprehensive understanding of the trade dynamics in the region.
