Bay duiker  (Cephalophus dorsalis)

The bay duiker has a very large distribution but its popularity with bushmeat hunters and traders has resulted in numbers declining in many West African countries. The bay duiker is now rare in Nigeria and Sierra Leone and extinct in Uganda (2). Duikers are easily hunted with either gun or cable snare, easily transportable by foot, and have sufficient meat to be profitable, making them one of the primary targets for both subsistence and commercial hunting activities (8). Unfortunately, the majority of duiker hunting at present is unsustainable (8). In addition, the bay duiker's preference for undisturbed forest makes is vulnerable to habitat degradation, caused by human activities such as cultivation. For example, population numbers in Togo are declining due to a combination of habitat destruction and hunting (6).

The bay duiker is listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which means that international trade in this species should be carefully regulated (3). However, to address the threat of the unregulated bushmeat trade, further action is required. Research into the factors influencing the trade, and efforts to educate the public about the threats facing duikers and their importance, are some of the measures suggested (8). This is required to protect not only the future of bay duikers, but also to ensure this valuable resource is around for future generations of Africans.