Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Wildlife in the life of local people of the semi-arid Argentine Chaco

  • Published:
Biodiversity & Conservation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The semi-arid Argentine Chaco is inhabited by mestizo people, who live on an economy of subsistence based on the use of natural resources and livestock ranching. I investigated the dietary and economic importance of wildlife for local people. Through interviews and participant observation, I found that wildlife is used primarily as food, providing about a third of the total meat consumed by local peasants. Local people use at least 26 species of wildlife although they concentrate on few species. Small species, Chacoan cavies and armadillos, are consumed most, representing 48% of the total wild meat consumed. Consumption of wild meat follows seasonal patterns determined by hunting methods, preferences for meat quality and species activity patterns. The consumptive value of wild meat is high in comparison with wages, but lower in comparison with forest exploitation. Illegal commercialization of wildlife is practiced mainly by villagers and by outsiders and it affects endangered species. Patterns of use of wildlife by local people differ from other Latin American groups in terms of the range of species hunted and the role that hunting plays in local people’ livelihoods. The first steps towards conservation of this increasingly threatened region should involve decreasing hunting by local people of the more vulnerable species and controlling all illegal commercial hunting.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altrichter M. 2005. Factors underlying the interactions between people and wildlife in the Argentine Chaco. Ph.D. dissertation, School of natural Resources, University of Arizona.

  • M. Altrichter G. Boaglio (2004) ArticleTitleDistribution and relative abundance of peccaries in the Argentine Chaco: associations with human factors Biol. Conserv. 116 217–225 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0006-3207(03)00192-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Alvard (1993) ArticleTitleA test of the ‘ecologically noble savage hypothesis’: Interspecific prey choice by neotropical hunters Hum. Ecol. 21 355–387 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00891140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • F.R. Barbarán (2001) Evaluación de sostenibilidad del uso comercial de la fauna Chaqueña: dimensiones ecológicae, conómica, social e institucional. Actas del V Congreso Internacional de Manejo de Fauna en Amazonia y Latinoamérica Cartagena de Indias Colombia

    Google Scholar 

  • F.R. Barabarán C.J. Saravia-Toledo (2000) Caza de subsistencia en la provincia de Salta: su importancia en la economía de los aborígenes y criollos del Chaco semiárido C. Bertonatti J. Corchera (Eds) Situación ambiental Argentina 2000 Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina Buenos Aires 193–206

    Google Scholar 

  • C.A. Behrens (1981) ArticleTitleTime allocation and meat procurement among the Shipibo Indians of Eastern Peru Hum. Ecol. 9 189–220 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00889133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E.L. Bennet J.G. Robinson (2000) Hunting for the Snark J. Robinson E. Bennett (Eds) Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests Columbia University Press Columbia 1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • R.E. Bodmer (1990) ArticleTitleResponses of ungulates to seasonal inundations in the Amazon Floodplain J. Trop. Ecol. 6 191–201 Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0266467400004314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. Bodmer (1995) ArticleTitleManaging Amazonian wildlife: biological correlates of game choice by detribalized hunters Ecol. Appl? 5 872–877

    Google Scholar 

  • R.E. Bodmer T.G. Fang L. Moya R. Gill (1994) ArticleTitleManaging wildlife to conserve Amazonian forests: population biology and economic considerations of game hunting Biol. Conserv. 67 29–35 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0006-3207(94)90005-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R.E. Bodmer J.F. Einsberg K.H. Redford (1997) ArticleTitleHunting and the likelihood of extinction of Amazonian Mammals Conserv. Biol. 11 460–466 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1523-1739.1997.96022.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.L. Bolkovic (1999) Usos de fauna silvestre por pobladores de las cercanías de la Reserva Provincial Copo, Santiago del Estero, Argentina T.G. Fang O.L. Montenegro R.E. Bodmer (Eds) Manejo y Conservación de Fauna Silvestre en América Latina Instituto de Ecología, La Paz Bolivia 117–124

    Google Scholar 

  • D.M. Brooks (1996) ArticleTitleHerd interactions of chacoan peccaries (Catagonus wagneri) costs and benefits Anim. K. Forum 23 123–134

    Google Scholar 

  • E.H. Bucher (1982) Chaco and Caatinga: South American arid savannas, woodlands and thickets B. Huntley B. Walker (Eds) Ecology of Tropical Savannas. Ecological Studies 42 Springer-Verlag Berlin 48–79

    Google Scholar 

  • E.H. Bucher P.C. Huszar (1999) ArticleTitleSustainable management of the Gran Chaco of South America: ecological promise and economic constraints J. Environ. Manage. 57 99–108 Occurrence Handle10.1006/jema.1999.0290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cuéllar R.L. 2000. Uso de los animals silvestres por pobladores Izoceños. In: Cabrera E., Mercolli C. and Resquin R. (eds), Manejo de fauna silvestre en Amazonía y Latinoamérica. CITES Paraguay, Fundación Moises Bertoni, Unviersity of Florida.

  • L. Cullen R.E. Bodmer C. Valladares-Padua J.D. Ballau (2004) mammalian densities and species extinctions in Atlantic forest fragments: the need for population management K.M. Silvius R.E. Bodmer J.M.V. Fragoso (Eds) People in Nature Columbia University Press New York 211–226

    Google Scholar 

  • T.G. Fang O.L. Montenegro R.E. Bodmer (1999) Manejo y conservación de fauna silvestre en America Latina Instituto de Ecología La Paz, Bolivia

    Google Scholar 

  • L.A. Fitzgerald J.M. Chani O.E. Donadio (1991) Tupinambis lizards in Argentina: Implementing Management of a traditionally exploited resource J. Robinson K. Redford (Eds) Neotropical Wildlife Use and Conservation University of Chicago Press Chicago 303–316

    Google Scholar 

  • J.M.V. Fragoso R.E. Bodmer K.M. Silvius (2004) Introduction Wildlife conservation and management in South and Central America: Multiple pressures and innovative solutions K.M. Silvius R.E. Bodmer J.M.V. Fragoso (Eds) People in Nature Columbia University Press New York 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • K. Hill K. Hawkes (1983) Neotropical hunting among the Ache of Paraguay K.H. Redford J.A. Mansour (Eds) Traditional Peoples and Biodiversity Conservation in Large Tropical Landscapes The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA 159–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Hill K. and Padwe J. 2000. Sustainability of Ache hunting in the Mbaracayu ReserveParaguay. In: Robinson J. and Bennet E. (eds), Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests. Columbia University Press, pp. 79–105.

  • M. Loibooki H. Heribert L. Kenneth L. Marion (2002) ArticleTitleBushmeat hunting by communities adjacent to the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania: The importance of livestock ownership and alternative sources of protein and income Environ. Conserv. 29 391–398 Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0376892902000279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.A. Lopes S.F. Ferrari (2000) ArticleTitleEffects of human colonization on the abundance and diversity of mammals in eastern Brazilian Amazonia Conserv. Biol. 14 1658–1665 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1523-1739.2000.98402.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.A. Mares (1992) ArticleTitleNeotropical mammals and the myth of Amazonian biodiversity Science 255 976–979 Occurrence Handle10.1126/science.255.5047.976 Occurrence Handle17793161

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • M. Mares R.A. Ojeda R.M. Barquez (1989) Guide to the Mammals of Salta Province, Argentina University of Oklahoma Press London

    Google Scholar 

  • G.H.B. Martin (1985) ArticleTitleCarcass composition and palatability of some wild animals commonly used as food World Anim. Rev. 53 40–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Morello J. and Adamoli J. 1968. Las grandes unidades de vegetación y ambiente del Chaco Argentino. Primera parte: Objetivos y metodología. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (Argentina), Serie Fitogeografica, No 10.

  • E.J. Naranjo M.M Guerra R.E. Bodmer L.E. Bolaños (2004) ArticleTitleSubsistence hunting by three ethnic groups of the Lacandon Forest, Mexico J. Ethnobiol. 24 233–253

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Noss (1998) ArticleTitleEl monitoreo comunitario de cacería en el Izozog: datos preliminaries Ecología en Bolivia 31 53–66

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Noss (1999) Manejo de fauna comunitario en el Gran Chaco, Bolivia T.G. Fang O.L. Montenegro R.E. Bodmer (Eds) Manejo y conservación de fauna silveste en América Latina Instituto de Ecología la Paz, Bolivia 109–116

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Noss R.L. Cuéllar (2001) ArticleTitleCommunity attitudes towards wildlife management in the Bolivian Chaco Oryx 35 292–300 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1365-3008.2001.00199.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A. Noss J.E. Cuéllar R.L. Cuéllar (2003) ArticleTitleHunter self-monitoring as a basis for biological research: data from the Bolivian Chaco Mastozoología Neotropical 10 49–67

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Ojasti (1996) Wildlife Utilization in Latin America: Current situation and prospects for sustainable management FAO Conservation, FAO Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Ortiz von Halle (2002) Preliminary assessment of the environmental and socio-economic impacts of wild meat harvesting in South America S. Mainka M. Trivedi (Eds) Links between biodiversity conservation, livelihoods and food security. The sustainable use of wild meat IUCN, Gland Switzerland and Cambridge 61–69

    Google Scholar 

  • A.C. Peres (2001) ArticleTitleSynergistic effects of subsistence hunting and habitat fragmentation on Amazonian forest vertebrates Conserv. Biol. 15 1490–1505 Occurrence Handle10.1046/j.1523-1739.2001.01089.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. Prescott-Allen C. Prescott-Allen (1982) What’s wildlife worth? International Institute for Environment and Development Washington, D.C

    Google Scholar 

  • K.H. Redford (1993) Hunting in neotropical forests: a subsidy from nature C.M. Hladik A. Hladik O.F. Linares H. Pagezy A. Semple M. Hadley (Eds) Tropical Forests, People and Food. Man and the Biosphere Series Vol. 13 UNESCO Paris 227–246

    Google Scholar 

  • K.H. Redford J.G. Robinson (1987) ArticleTitleThe game of choice: patterns of Indian and colonist hunting in the neotropics Am. Anthropol. 89 650–666 Occurrence Handle10.1525/aa.1987.89.3.02a00070

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K.H. Redford J.G. Robinson (1991) Subsistence and commercial uses of wildlife in Latin America J. Robinson K. Redford (Eds) Neotropical Wildlife Use and Conservation University of Chicago Press Chicago 6–23

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Robinson E. Bennet (Eds) (2000a) Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests Columbia University Press New York

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Robinson E. Bennet (2000b) Carrying capacity limits to sustainable hunting in tropical forest J. Robinson E. Bennet (Eds) Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests Columbia University Press New York 13–30

    Google Scholar 

  • K.M. Silvius R.E. Bodmer J.M.V. Fragoso (Eds) (2004) People in Nature Columbia University Press New York

    Google Scholar 

  • N.J. Smith (1976) ArticleTitleUtilization of game along Brazil’s transamazon higway Acta Amazonica 6 455–466

    Google Scholar 

  • L.K. Sowls (1984) The Peccaries The University of Arizona Press Tucson, Arizona

    Google Scholar 

  • R.R. Souza-Mazurek T. Pedrinho X. Feliciano W. Hilario S. Geroncio E. Marcelo (2000) ArticleTitleSubsistence hunting among the Wimiri Atroari Indians in central Amazonia, Brazil Biodivers. Conserv. 9 579–596 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1008999201747

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stearman A.M. 2000. A pound of flesh: Social changes and modernization as factors in hunting sustainability. In: Robinson J. and Bennet E. (eds), Hunting for Sustainability in Tropical Forests. Columbia University Press, pp. 233–250.

  • A.M. Stearman K.H. Redford (1995) ArticleTitleGame management and cultural survival: the Yuqui ethnodevelopment project in lowland Bolivia Oryx 29 29–34 Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0030605300020846

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • J.B. Thomsen A. Brautigam (1991) Sustainable use of neotropical parrots J. Robinson K. Redford (Eds) Neotropical Wildlife Use and Conservation University of Chicago Press Chicago 359–379

    Google Scholar 

  • W.T. Vickers (1984) ArticleTitleThe faunal components of lowland South American hunting kills Interciencia 9 366–376

    Google Scholar 

  • M.R. Zak M. Cabido J.G. Hodgson (2004) ArticleTitleDo subtropical seasonal forests in the Gran Chaco, Argentina, have a future? Biol. Conserv. 120 589–598 Occurrence Handle10.1016/j.biocon.2004.03.034

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mariana Altrichter.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Altrichter, M. Wildlife in the life of local people of the semi-arid Argentine Chaco. Biodivers Conserv 15, 2719–2736 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-005-0307-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-005-0307-5

Navigation