Bridging the Gap: Media Perceptions and Public Attitudes Towards Wild Meat Consumption in Central Africa During COVID-19

A recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Oxford, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), CIFOR-ICRAF, and partner organizations highlights a notable disconnect between media narratives and public perceptions regarding wild meat in Central Africa amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The research emphasizes the complex dynamics between media reporting, community beliefs, and behavioral responses, offering valuable insights for wildlife conservation and public health initiatives.

The study analyzed over 260 media articles from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo, paired with phone surveys of more than 3,600 individuals in Cameroon and DRC. It found that media coverage predominantly focused on the potential risks of zoonotic spill-over from wild meat to humans, with about 61% of articles highlighting disease risks. In contrast, the public’s perceptions were more nuanced; many viewed domesticated red meat as more hazardous than wild meat when it came to disease transmission.

While health concerns led nearly half of Cameroonian respondents to reduce wild meat consumption, a third of DRC residents reported increasing their intake, citing scarcity and high costs of alternative protein sources. This divergence underscores the influence of local context and personal experience over media messages.

The study advocates for more culturally sensitive communication strategies, emphasizing community engagement and trusted local voices. Top-down bans and generic health warnings alone are insufficient. Instead, effective interventions should include offering safe, affordable wild meat substitutes, strengthening local institutions, law enforcement, and monitoring systems to support both biodiversity conservation and human health.

Lead author Yuhan Li states that understanding community motivations and social perceptions is crucial for designing impactful policies. The authors recommend evidence-based campaigns, collaborations with local influencers, and context-specific policies to foster sustainable behaviors and improve public health outcomes.

Source: MedicalXpress