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A brand new research printed by researchers from the College of Oxford, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), CIFOR-ICRAF, and institutional companions reveals a disconnect between media and public perceptions of the dangers of consuming wild meat in Central Africa throughout COVID-19, and sheds mild on the advanced relationship between media reporting, group beliefs, and habits change—providing essential classes for wildlife administration and public well being methods.
The work seems in Individuals and Nature.
Perceptions of untamed meat within the media
“Media articles tended to emphasize the risks of a virus spill-over from wild meat to humans,” stated lead creator Yuhan Li, DPhil Pupil on the College of Oxford’s Division of Biology. “However, our results show that people’s perceptions were more influenced by their personal experience, and that their food choices were largely determined by the price and availability of wild and domestic meats.”
Wild meat is a major supply of meals and revenue technology in Central Africa. Nevertheless, little is understood of how the assumed hyperlink between COVID-19 and wild meat consumption has been mentioned by the media and obtained by the general public.
COVID-19 introduced elevated media consideration to wild meat consumption and adjusted public perceptions and said consumption behaviors associated to meat consumption in Central Africa. Researchers analyzed over 260 media articles from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gabon, and the Republic of Congo alongside cellphone surveys of greater than 3,600 folks in Cameroon and DRC.
The research discovered that though media protection usually emphasised illness dangers related to wild meat (61% of articles that mentioned zoonotic dangers), public beliefs had been extra nuanced. In actual fact, a major share of respondents considered domesticated crimson meat—not wild meat—because the riskiest protein supply for illness. Moreover, whereas practically half of Cameroonian respondents reported consuming much less wild meat attributable to well being issues, one-third of DRC respondents stated they elevated consumption because of the shortage and price of options.
Altering consumption via communication
Analysis on social perceptions round wild meat is important for informing interventions which might be each culturally acceptable and efficient. Bans on buying and selling wild meat had been broadly mentioned within the media as a possible coverage response to COVID-19, however there was an absence of consensus amongst respondents that this may be essentially the most acceptable coverage: views had been divided in Cameroon, whereas help was stronger in DRC and opposition decrease.
“If we want to shift behaviors around wild meat consumption in Central Africa, we need to start by listening,” explains Lude Kinzonzi (Wildlife Conservation Society), one of many co-authors. “Prime-down bans or generic well being warnings not often work. What makes the distinction are approaches grounded in actual group wants and motivations, optimistic campaigns constructed on proof, amplified by trusted native voices, and supported by viable options. And which means options not only for shoppers, but in addition for others alongside the worth chain, like distributors.
“Without options on the supply side, even the most promising interventions risk being undermined.”
The authors name for evidence-based communication campaigns, collaboration with trusted native influencers, and focused, context-specific coverage measures.
These needs to be complemented by increasing entry to protected and reasonably priced wild meat substitutes, and by investing in stronger native establishments, regulation enforcement, and monitoring programs. A multifaceted method will help obtain each biodiversity conservation and human well being outcomes, notably in areas the place wild meat stays a important part of meals safety and livelihoods.
Extra data:
The impression of COVID-19 on public perceptions of untamed meat in Central Africa, Individuals and Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1002/pan3.70094
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College of Oxford
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A media–public disconnect exists on wild meat narratives in central Africa throughout COVID-19 (2025, July 25)
retrieved 25 July 2025
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