Hunting and wildlife use in an Atlantic Forest remnant of northeastern Brazil

Abstract

The hunting of wild vertebrates is a widespread practice in Brazil. From a socioeconomic perspective, this is important for providing meat and other products. However, there are big conservation implications for the hunted species; this highlights the need for research on hunting activity within that context. This paper investigates, from an ethnozoological point of view, the hunting and use of wildlife in the municipality of Conde, in the Atlantic Forest area of the State of Paraíba. We interviewed local hunters, and 68 huntable animals were registered in the following categories: mammals (24), birds (26) and reptiles (18). The motivations for hunting in the surveyed area include the use of meat as food, zootherapy (use of parts of the animal's body for medicinal purposes), the capture of animals for pets, and control hunting of animals that threaten agriculture, kill laying hens, and present a risk to the hunter's health. The techniques for capturing the animals include hunting with a hound dog, use of a shotgun, ambushing ("tocaia"), imitation ("arremedo"), and traps. The registration of species enhances knowledge regarding the hunting of wildlife in the State of Paraíba. This paper is particularly important as there is no research on hunting in the Atlantic Forest area. We expect our results to contribute to the implementation/perfecting of public policies that address wildlife management and conservation of the region's biodiversity. © Jamylle Barcellos de Souza and Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves.