Wildlife photographer and conservation activist Karl Amman leads the campaign that gained worldwide recognition of the African bushmeat crisis. His photos of the illegal trade have been featured in numerous international publications, including the New York Times Magazine and Stern Magazine. He helped produce several TV programs on bushmeat for CNN, BBC Newsround, National Geographic and others.

A five-time winner of the "World In our Hands" category of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year award, Amman has authored numerous photo-essay books, including The Orangutan (with Birute Galdikas), Gorilla, Cheetah and Masai Mara. Amman is currently writing a book on the bushmeat crisis with author Dale Peterson.

After studying at St. Gall Graduate School of Economics, and graduating from Cornell University's hotel management school in 1974, Amman worked on new project development and marketing for InterContinental Hotels in Africa and worldwide, travelling to over 70 countries.

Today. Amman also advises many advocacy organizations, including the World Society for the Protection of Animals and the Great Ape Project. Amman and his wife Kathy share their 10-acre ranch near Mt. Kenya with their adopted chimpanzee son Mzee, a home-reared cheetah, and dozens of visiting elephant, buffalo, monkeys and other local wildlife.

4.23.01 Lee asked:
Just what did the people eat before "bushmeat"? Do you have enough money to feed them yourself? They were eating bushmeat from the beginning of time so nothing has changed any- has it?

Amman 's response:
Things have changed very drastically with logging in the last two decades. New forests have been opened up and made accessible, plus it is now easy to transport meat to urban markets, which has created a very different new demand picture. As it stands in some areas wildlife has already been wiped out and people catch grasshoppers for protein. Surely that is not the answer and sustainable use is. Maybe eating it 2 times a week instead of 7 times until it is all gone.

4.23.01 Andy Bixler asked:
What steps if any are these African countries doing to halt this illegal bushmeat trade?

Amman 's response:
In my opinion, there still is very little political will and without any most steps taken so far amount to window dressing.

4.23.01 Barrett Warmbein asked:
Would an established organization such as Peace Corp or CARE teach the indigenous people to use the land more efficiently without the need for bushmeat?

Amman 's response:
There is not much of a culture of live stock raising in most of Central Africa which makes things more difficult. In my experience the Peace Corps generally comes in to mitigate a problem once the damage is done. Maybe what is needed is a new branch in the form of an Eco Corps. More could be done, there is no doubt.

4.23.01 Ashley asked:
How were you able to document the illegal bushment trade?

Amman 's response:
Initially, it was easy because it was all very open. Nobody cared about the local laws and largely still does not but the international publicity has driven some of the illegal trade under ground - or the market table. So it is no longer that easy and now requires the use of hidden camera equipment and local investigators.

4.23.01 Guy La Pierre asked:
I found it strange that the hand was a more desirable piece of 'meat' that the arm. Is there a traditional reason? Or some other explanation? That question is trivial--I apologize. Would you post concrete measures that can be undertaken to support your work?

Amman 's response:
Hands do seem to have more of a mystical value in some parts than other body parts, plus the meat is considered to be better.

As for concrete measures: At this stage the individual can not do much. However I believe if: 'the people lead the leaders will follow." That applies to the US as well.

4.23.01 Eric Andrews asked:
First, let me say that I appreciate the action that you and your staff have taken in order to bring the practice of bush meat trading to the public.

In your opinion, is the bushmeat market driven by the desires of the middle class or by the need by natives for meat?
Do the African societies engaging in this practice have the capability to sustain themselves through the use of harvested produce?
How do you feel this can be eliminated? Is education of the human population, regarding sustainability and primates in general, the best recourse?
As a strict vegetarian I am deeply concerned that entire species may be eliminated through the consumption of 'trophy' meat.

I look forward to learning more about this practice and supporting its abolishment.

Amman 's response:
These days one of the main problems is the growing demand from urban centers. This meat is consumed by the middle and upper class willing to pay a premium over domestic meat such as beef and pork. They are also the ones who are educated and have access to the media; as such, they would know that various laws are infringed on to bring this meat to their diner table. So, this is the audience to go for, and, if necessary, embarrass into cultural change. Plus, of course, the government authorities must enforce their own laws. If that were done, bushmeat hunting would not stop, but would most likely return to being sustainable- which would be in the interest of all concerned.