This book is a startling account of one of the Anthropocene s catastrophes in the making. In much of Central Africa, eating wildlife is seen as a normal practice. Tens of millions of animals are hunted every year for human consumption. Tradition, trade, taste, and the lack of alternative proteins explain this reality. Animal populations are being decimated, directly impacting the fragile network of biodiversity, local economies, and public health. But cultural attachment to nyama makes the bushmeat crisis difficult to solve. Healthy forests are needed to mitigate climate change; healthy fauna is needed to maintain the equilibrium of these spaces. Bolstered by anthropological studies, this book analyses such dynamics, while explaining why the persistent demand for nyama is a challenge to conservation efforts and thus to the survival of the planet.