African rock python (Python sebae)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 162514217

Survey of bushmeat markets to assess the status of the African snake trade

Bushmeat markets are an obvious starting point to explore the extent of the African reptile trade, and to investigate potential threats to rare or vulnerable snake species. The objective of my fieldwork is to investigate the biomass and biodiversity of snakes being sold on bushmeat markets in West/Central Africa. Bushmeat markets will be surveyed for 3 weeks in two major cities of Cameroon – Douala and Yaoundé, and data will be collected for further analysis. These surveys will consist of identifying snakes for sale to species level, and where possible additional attributes will be collected e.g. sex, size and price of sale, and pictures will be taken. Jensen will recruit local help affiliated to the local conservation NGO - TRAFFIC. During the course of the fieldwork the local help will be trained to identify snake species, collect physical data and take pictures of specimens.