Why do wild meat bans threaten food security in Central Africa?

Wild meat bans can make it harder for people to get enough food because they stop people from hunting animals that are easy to catch and eat.

Imagine you have a small garden where you grow tomatoes. You pick the ripe ones every day, but if someone suddenly tells you you can't pick any more tomatoes, you might not have enough to eat until your next harvest. That’s like what happens when wild meat bans happen in Central Africa.

Wild meat means animals that live in the forest or nearby, like monkeys, antelopes, and deer, that people catch and cook for food.

Sometimes, people in cities get sick from eating wild meat. That’s why some countries say, “No more wild meat!” to keep people safe. But when this happens, many families can’t afford other kinds of food, like rice or bread.

It’s like if you had only one toy to play with, and suddenly someone took it away, you might feel sad, but your parents also might not have enough money for a new toy right then.