Natural licks are sites where wildlife consumes mineral rich soil. In the Amazon, indigenous people use licks as favoured hunting grounds, especially to hunt the large lowland tapir, which is a vulnerable and overexploited species, but also one that is preferred for bush-meat. Bush meat hunting is one of the major issues facing tropical forest conservation. Therefore, a better understanding of natural licks, the animals that use them, and sustainable management of the hunting will be important in helping to conserve Amazonian wildlife and the forests in which they live.

This project is taking an interdisciplinary approach that combines research that looks at the ecology of wildlife that use natural licks with an understanding of the indigenous perceptions that use the licks for bush meat hunting. As during 2008, I will continue working with the indigenous communities, along with the camera trapping and direct observation of animal activities at the licks. This information will provide a basis to community based management practices in indigenous reserves.