Understanding zoonotic risks from wild meat at the Kenya–Tanzania border
The goal of the project is to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wild meat trade in settlements across the Kenya–Tanzania border. This trade has an impact on rural development, biodiversity and human health.
It is thought that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated illegal trade of wild meat in parts of Kenya, leading to reports of an escalation in wildlife poaching to sell game meat as domestic meat in the large urban centres in the country. It is also thought that zoonotic diseases can originate from the handling and butchering of wild animals, and a rise in unregulated wild meat extractions could risk a spillover of pathogens from wild animals to people.
Objective
To determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on wild meat trade in parts of Kenya and Tanzania through a targeted survey.
Expected outcome
Critical data for stakeholders on wild meat trade across the Kenya–Tanzania border.
Partners
- Center for International Forestry Research
- Heritage Nature
- Kenya Wildlife Service
- One Health Research, Education and Outreach Centre in Africa
- TRAFFIC
- Wildlife Research and Training Institute, Kenya
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