Socio-economic and cultural drivers of the use of Goliath frogs in Cameroon

Abstract

In Cameroon, many amphibians are collected for food, medicinal and cultural purposes. Despite being fully protected, the endangered frog Conraua goliath, is still intensively collected. However, the motivation driving this illegal exploitation are manifold and not fully understood. Using semi-structured questionnaires, we interviewed 149 hunters from 10 villages. This study profiles this hunting community and examines drivers of Goliath frog use in the Littoral region of Cameroon. Fourteen local names were identified, highlighting the frog’s significance in local culture. Respondents, aged 15-60 years (79.9% men, 20.1% women), and represented 20 ethnic groups, including 67.7% non-autochthonous. Frog hunters were predominantly young (25-54 years old) with low education and unprofitable occupations, engaged in frog hunting for subsistence or sold through various channels, including local markets, roadside, restaurants, and private orders. Predominantly non-native hunters travelled over 10 km and used diverse, sophisticated, and combined hunting techniques, including firearms in order to collect frogs. Inter-ethnic variation in hunting techniques was observed, with most hunting sessions, occurring weekly, resulting in up to 15 captured frogs. The species holds special cultural significance to some local ethnic groups. Its perception as totem and different ethno-medical applications have been reported. This study showed the significant economic and cultural value of the Goliath frog. Therefore, its urges conservation strategies that consider riparian communities’ social, economic and cultural context within its range. Key recommendations include law enforcement, fostering community involvement through ecological awareness campaigns, and educating hunters on sustainable harvesting practices of alternative resources to align subsistence needs with biodiversity conservation.