Vouchers control for illegal bushmeat transport and reveal dynamics of authorised wild meat trade in central Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

Hunting of species not protected by national law and during open hunting season is authorised by Maniema Province regulations in the buffer zone of the Lomami National Park (LNP). Since 2017, vouchers tally numbers and species of authorised bushmeat, as well as shotgun ammunition and snare cable transported across LNP on established tracks. The voucher system has high rates of compliance. Vouchers provide proof to park rangers checking caravans that bushmeat was not illegally harvested, and ammunition and snare cable not illegally deployed in LNP. Vouchers facilitate monitoring of bushmeat commerce in about 1/5 of Kindu's bushmeat catchment. Numbers of animals reported in vouchers has declined 2017–2021. However, the proportion of large mammals in bushmeat loads has not declined during this period. This suggests faunal depletion has not occurred in areas sourced by transporters. Insecurity in the area in 2019 led Congolese military to limit shotgun ammunition in transporters loads. This was associated with a decline in numbers of primates in bushmeat loads. Increasing costs and risks of bushmeat transport versus increasing availability and decreasing cost of domestic meat in Kindu have reduced the economic value of bushmeat trade from the LNP buffer zone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]