Hunting strategies, success, and sustainability: A case study in a community forest on the edge of Salonga National Park, DRC

Abstract Traditional hunting, practiced for millennia in Central Africa, is central to the way of life of local communities. However, increasing demand for wild meat has led to a transition to commercial hunting, raising concerns about the sustainability of this practice. This study, carried out over 12 months in six villages on the outskirts of Salonga National Park, Democratic Republic of the Congo, analyses hunting strategies and their impact on biodiversity. A total of 1769 hunting trips were documented, resulting in the capture of 1671 prey individuals belonging to 40 different taxa, for a total biomass of 9691 kg. Results show a predominance of metal snares (41% of recorded trips), followed by bow and arrow (30%) used at night with flashlights and guns (25%), with significant seasonal variations. Extraction of ungulates, representing 76.4% of the biomass harvested, suggests excessive pressure on these populations, confirmed by a rodent/ungulate index of 0.42. Reproductive analysis shows that 16.7% of hunted females were pregnant and 10.3% lactating, indicating the potential impact of hunting on population renewal. Practical implication . These results highlight the importance of putting in place appropriate policies and strategies for adaptive hunting management, incorporating quotas, seasonal closures, and economic alternatives to reduce pressure on wildlife to ensure biodiversity conservation and the sustainability of local communities' livelihoods.