Molecular identification versus local people’s information for accurate estimates of bushmeat utilization from the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania

Sustainable wildlife management assumes thorough knowledge of the factors of importance for species population dynamics. In this study, we examined the diversity of wildlife species that are illegally harvested in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania. A total of 124 bushmeat samples were obtained from hunters, middlemen and consumers in 79 sub-villages adjacent to the protected areas in western Serengeti. The species identity was verified in 118 bushmeat samples through molecular sequencing of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and phylogenetic assignments to established reference sequences of the respective species. The species diversity among the bushmeat samples was high with 15 identified species altogether. Wildebeest ( Connochaetes taurinus ) was clearly the most common species (n = 52), but also buffalo ( Syncerus caffer , n = 15), eland ( Tragelaphus oryx , n = 11), zebra ( Equus burchelli , n = 10), topi ( Damaliscus lunatus , n = 8) and impala ( Aepyceros melampus , n = 7) were relatively frequently identified. The correctness of the species identification given by the bushmeat providers was relatively low (59%) with error rates higher in consumers than in hunters and middlemen. This high error rate suggests that care should be taken in relying on local peoples’ information for accurate estimates of biodiversity of bushmeat utilization. Key words : Bushmeat, illegal hunting, species identification, cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequencing, western Serengeti.