The biology and use of the African brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus, Gray, 1842) as a food animal. A review

The brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus) is a hystricomorph rodent, which frequents the forests of West and Central Africa. With an average we ight of 3 kg, it is a favourite source of meat for urban and rural populati ons of Gabon, Nigeria, Cameroon or Congo. Hunted in large quantities, its p rice is often higher than that of other game or domestic animals. Although its current productivity in captivity is limited to a single young per birt h and two to three births per year per female, this species could be a good candidate for minilivestock programmes in African forest areas if its curr ent reproductive potential in captivity could be improved. Further research should be encouraged on its biology and reproduction since the current lev el of hunting for this species is probably not sustainable. Captive breedin g programmes could play a role in assessing a better knowledge of the speci es' biology, and in reducing the effects of intensive hunting in areas wher e this activity is no longer sustainable.