Africa's bushmeat trade increasing

YAOUNDE, Cameroon, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Increased bushmeat trade in central Africa's tropical forests poses a serious threat to the food supply for the region's poor inhabitants, conservationists say.

The Center for International Forestry Research said increased hunting of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians in tropical forests is unsustainable. Report author Robert Nasi said significant number of forest mammals will become extinct in fewer than 50 years if current hunting levels persist, The Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday.

The center's study calls for new policies to protect endangered species such as gorillas and elephants, while allowing sustainable hunting of common game that provides the primary source of protein to the poor.

The central African countries included in the study were Gabon, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.