Characterization of the use of Wildlife for Subsistence in a Conservation Unit in the West of Pará

Abstract

In Amazonia, hunting is a widespread practice among traditional peoples, and represent one of the few sources available of animal protein and fat. Similarly, hunting is among the most important extractive activities for local communities living at the Extractive Reserve (RESEX) Tapajós-Arapiuns. The present study attempts to understand and describe the use of wildlife in this protected area, at the Western part of Pará State, Amazonia, Brazil. This work encompasses the first result supported by data from the Monitoring Project of Subsistance Hunting at RESEX Tapajós-Arapiuns. At least 25 species of animals are hunted in eight monitored local communities. Local subsistance hunting follows the main pattern already described for Amazonia, where the bulk is dominated by medium and large sized mammals, such as ungulates of the genus Mazama, Tayassu and Pecari, caviomorph rodents (genus Dasyprocta spp. and
Cuniculus paca), and Dasypodidae (armadillos). Reptiles and birds are also important consumed items, the
former represented mainly by terrestrial tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.), and the later by members of the families Cracidae, Psittacidae and Tinamidae. During the year of this study, we recorded 881 hunting events, 691
of which considered successful, an average of 1.74 animals per event. The amount of 1,203 animals killed
recorded represented about 10,600 kg. The majority of the hunting events used firearms, and the hunters
used to range by foot inside the forest searching for the preferred game species. Although prohibited, the use
of hunting dogs still takes place in this protected area.