Trade in hedgehogs (Mammalia: Erinaceidae) in Morocco, with an overview of their trade for medicinal purposes throughout Africa and Eurasia

Abstract

Hedgehogs are traded locally and often in relatively small num--bers throughout Eurasia and Africa. We here report on the trade in North African Hedgehog Atelerix algirus and to a smaller extent possibly the Desert Hedgehog Paraechinus aethiopicus in Morocco, and provide an overview of the global trade in hedgehogs for medicinal purposes. In 2013 and 2014 we surveyed 20 Moroccan cities for a total of 48 times. We recorded 114 hedgehogs (32 alive and 82 skins) for sale in 25 shops in 10 cities, with the largest numbers recorded in Casablanca and Marrakesh. All live hedgehogs were identified as North African Hedgehog but skins could additionally have been of the Desert Hedgehog. Shops often displayed only single hedgehog skins, but occasionally up to 48 skins, and live individuals were mostly traded singly or in pairs. Over 80% of the shops selling hedgehogs were herbalists, selling herbs, spices, oils and animal parts, and both skins and live hedgehogs were intended to supply the demand for traditional (‘folk’) medicine. At a global scale we found an additional 34 reports of trade in 12 or possibly 13 species of hedgehogs from 23 countries; five studies involving three species in China, South Africa and Benin, included data on the frequency and abundance of hedgehogs in trade, whereas the other studies were qualitative in nature. Market data have limited value in gauging the off-take of hedgehogs from the wild to supply the traditional medicine trade, but we nevertheless urge the continuation of monitoring the trade in hedgehogs in Morocco and indeed elsewhere to ensure it does not become a threat to their survival in the foreseeable future.

Full text

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sŝŶĐĞŶƚEŝũŵĂŶϭΘĂŶŝĞůĞƌŐŝŶϮ
1,2 Oxford Wildlife Trade Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford OX1 0BP, UK
1 vnijman@brookes.ac.uk (corresponding author), 2 danielbergin1@gmail.com
ϳϭϯϭ
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online)
ISSN 0974-7893 (Print)
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in Morocco as part of his MSc programme at Oxford Brookes University, Ä®½Ù¦®ÄǁŽƌŬĞĚĂƐĂƋƵĂůŝĮĞĚƚŽƵƌŐƵŝĚĞŝŶ^ŽƵƚŚĨƌŝĐĂ͛Ɛ<ƌƵŐĞƌEĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ͘
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ďƐƚƌĂĐƚ͗,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐĂƌĞƚƌĂĚĞĚůŽĐĂůůLJĂŶĚŽŌĞŶŝŶƌĞůĂƟǀĞůLJƐŵĂůůŶƵŵďĞƌƐƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚƵƌĂƐŝĂĂŶĚĨƌŝĐĂ͘tĞŚĞƌĞƌĞƉŽƌƚŽŶƚŚĞƚƌĂĚĞ
ŝŶEŽƌƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐ Atelerix algirusĂŶĚ ƚŽĂ ƐŵĂůůĞƌĞdžƚĞŶƚƉŽƐƐŝďůLJƚŚĞ ĞƐĞƌƚ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐParaechinu s aethiopicus in Morocco,
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ŶĞǀĞƌƚŚĞůĞƐƐƵƌŐĞƚŚĞĐŽŶƟŶƵĂƟŽŶŽĨŵŽŶŝƚŽƌŝŶŐƚŚĞƚƌĂĚĞŝŶŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐŝŶDŽƌŽĐĐŽĂŶĚŝŶĚĞĞĚĞůƐĞǁŚĞƌĞƚŽĞŶƐƵƌĞŝƚĚŽĞƐŶŽƚďĞĐŽŵĞ
a threat to their survival in the foreseeable future.
<ĞLJǁŽƌĚƐ͗ŽŶƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶ͕ĞƚŚŶŽͲŵĞĚŝĐŝŶĞ͕ĨŽůŬŵĞĚŝĐŝŶĞ͕ŶŽƌƚŚĞƌŶĨƌŝĐĂ͕ǁŝůĚůŝĨĞƚƌĂĚĞ͘
DATA
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NEAR
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VULNERABLE
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CRITICALLY
ENDANGERED
CR
LEAST
CONCERN
LC
Atelerix algirus
EŽƌƚŚĨƌŝĐĂŶ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐ

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2015 | 7(5): 7131–7137
Hedgehog trade in Morocco Nijman & Bergin


     

  
       
         
         
not face large amounts of threats, and no species is

     

local level some species are exploited for their meat and


        



 

 




    
the trade in hedgehogs based on an extensive literature
search.
        
Atelerix algirus, occurring in the
  
Paraechinus aethiopicus, occurring in the south. The
      
      
 
       


       
        
        


    
         
         
       
         
       
for pets, food and medical purposes and to be used in

species should be monitored and more data gathered;
         
        
      


        

         




       
       




2014 the second author surveyed the markets in 20

      

       
 
         
     

       
         




       
 
        
visits.

We searched Google Scholar and the Web of Science
    
       
      
        
(Erinaceus, Hemiechinus, Paraechinus, Mesechinus,
Atelerix

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2015 | 7(5): 7131–7137
Hedgehog trade in Morocco Nijman & Bergin
ϳϭϯϯ
ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐƚŚĂƚǁĞƌĞƐƉĞĐŝĮĐŝŶƚŚĞůŽĐĂƟŽŶ;ĂƚůĞĂƐƚĂƚƚŚĞ
ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJůĞǀĞůͿǁĞƌĞŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ;ƚŚƵƐĞdžĐůƵĚŝŶŐĂƌƟĐůĞƐƚŚĂƚ
ŵĞƌĞůLJƐƚĂƚĞĚƚŚĂƚ͞ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐĂƌĞƚƌĂĚĞĚĂƐďƵƐŚŵĞĂƚ
ŝŶ ĨƌŝĐĂ͟Ϳ͘  ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐ ŽĐĐƵƌ ůĂƌŐĞůLJ ĂůůŽƉĂƚƌŝĐĂůůLJ͘
tŚĞŶĂƐƚƵĚLJĚŝĚŶŽƚƐƉĞĐŝĨLJǁŚĂƚƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽĨŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐ
ǁĂƐ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ƚ ŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ ŝŶĨĞƌƌĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ  ƚŚĞ ůŽĐĂůŝƚLJ ; ƚŚƵƐ ŝŶ
^ŽƵƚŚĨƌŝĐĂŽŶůLJ ƚŚĞ ^ŽƵƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐŽĐĐƵƌƐͿ͖
ŝĨ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĂƐ ŶŽƚ ƉŽƐƐŝďůĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ƐƚƵĚLJ ǁĂƐ ĞdžĐůƵĚĞĚ͘  tĞ
ƚŽŽŬ ĐĂƌĞ ƚŽ ĐŚĞĐŬ ǁŚĞŶ ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐ ǁĞƌĞŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚ͕
ďƵƚ ŶŽ ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ ǁĂƐ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĞĚ͕ ƚŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌƐ ĚŝĚ ŝŶĚĞĞĚ
ƌĞĨĞƌƚŽ ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐ ĂŶĚ ŶŽƚƚŽ ƉŽƌĐƵƉŝŶĞƐ͘  &ŝŶĂůůLJ͕ǁĞ
ǁĞƌĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌLJ ĞdžƉůŽŝƚĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ
use of hedgehogs and historic accounts of their use
;Ğ͘Ő͕͘tĞƐƚĞƌŵĂƌĐŬϭϵϮϲ͖ 'ƵŶĚĂ ϭϵϲϮ͖ >ĞǀϮϬϬϯͿǁĞƌĞ
ůĞƐƐŽĨ ƌĞůĞǀĂŶĐĞ͘dŚƵƐ ŽŶůLJƐƚƵĚŝĞƐĨŽƌ ǁŚŝĐŚƚŚĞĚĂƚĂ
ǁĂƐ ĐŽůůĞĐƚĞĚ ĂŌĞƌ ϭϵϵϱ ǁĞƌĞ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ͘   ƐƚƵĚLJ ǁĂƐ
ĚĞĞŵĞĚƋƵĂŶƟƚĂƟǀĞŝĨƐƵƌǀĞLJĞīŽƌƚĂŶĚͬŽƌŶƵŵďĞƌƐŽĨ
ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐŽƌƚŚĞŝƌƉĂƌƚƐǁĞƌĞƐƉĞĐŝĮĞĚŽƚŚĞƌǁŝƐĞŝƚǁĂƐ
ĐŽŶƐŝĚĞƌĞĚƋƵĂůŝƚĂƟǀĞ͘
Z^h>d^
dƌĂĚĞŝ ŶD ŽƌŽĐĐ Ž
EŽŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐǁĞƌĞŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚŝŶƚƌĂĚĞŝŶƚŚĞĐŝƟĞƐŽĨ
^ĂůĞŽƌdĞƚŽƵĂŶ;ďŽƚŚƐƵƌǀĞLJĞĚƚǁŝĐĞͿ͕ƐŝůĂŚ͕ĞŶŝŶƐĂƌ͕
ŚĞĨĐŚĂŽƵĞŶ͕ ů :ĂĚŝĚĂ͕ ƐƐĂŽƵŝƌĂ͕ &ŶŝĚĞƋ͕ <ĞŶŝƚƌĂ Žƌ
dĂnjĂ;ĂůůƐƵƌǀĞLJĞĚŽŶĐĞͿ͘ tĞƌĞĐŽƌĚĞĚϭϭϰ ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐ
ĨŽƌƐĂůĞŝŶϮϱƐŚŽƉƐŝŶϭϬĐŝƟĞƐ͕ŝ͘Ğ͕͘ϯϮĂůŝǀĞĂŶĚϴϮƐŬŝŶƐ
;dĂďůĞ ϭͿ͘  >ŝǀĞ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ ǁĞƌĞ Ăůů ŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚ ĂƐ EŽƌƚŚ
ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐ ;/ŵĂŐĞ ϭͿ ĂŶĚ ǁŚŝůĞ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŵŽƐƚ ůŝŬĞůLJ
ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂũŽƌŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƐŬŝŶƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĂůƐŽ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƉĞĐŝĞƐ͕
dŽǁŶ ŽŽƌĚŝŶĂƚĞƐ
ϮϬϭϯ ϮϬϭϰ dŽƚĂů
^ƵƌǀĞLJƐ ^ŚŽƉƐ >ŝǀĞ ^ŬŝŶƐ ^ƵƌǀĞLJƐ ^ŚŽƉƐ >ŝǀĞ ^ŬŝŶƐ ^ŚŽƉƐ ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐ
ŐĂĚŝƌ 30.430Eʹϵ͘ϲϬ0W1 1 0 1 0 - - - 1 1
ĂƐĂďůĂŶĐĂ ϯϯ͘ϱϬ0Eʹϳ͘ϲϬ0W1 3 ϱ11 2 4 9 34 4 ϱϵ
&Ğnj 34.000Eʹϱ͘ϬϬ0W4 2 0 3 2 3 3 ϱ411
Marrakech ϯϭ͘ϲϬ0N–8.000W3 ϱ3ϲ21110ϱ20
Meknes 33.900Eʹϱ͘ϲϬ0W4 1 0 1 2 1 0 1 2 2
Ouijda ϯϰ͘ϲϵ0N–1.910W1 2 2 1 0 - - - 2 3
Rabat 34.000Eʹϲ͘ϵϬ0W4 2 0 ϲ21ϱ03 11
^ĂĮ 32.300N–9.200W1 1 0 2 0 - - - 1 2
Tangier ϯϱ͘ϴϬ0Eʹϱ͘ϴϬ0W211021ϱ02 ϲ
Taroudant ϯϬ͘ϱϬ0N–8.900W1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1
Total 23 19 11 32 13 11 23 ϱϬ Ϯϱ 114
dĂď ů Ğϭ ͘ ,Ğ Ě ŐĞ Ś Ž ŐƐ  ĨŽƌ  ƐĂů Ğ ŝŶ  ƚŚĞ  ŵĂƌ ŬĞƚ Ɛ Ž Ĩ  ϭϬ  D Žƌ Ž ĐĐĂ Ŷ Đŝ Ɵ ĞƐŝŶϮϬϭϯĂŶĚϮϬϭϰ͖ƐŚŽƉƐƌĞĨĞƌƚŽƚŚĞŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨƐŚŽƉƐŽƌƐƚĂůůƐƐĞůůŝŶŐ
ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐĂŶĚŶŽƚƚŽƚŚĞŶƵŵďĞƌŽĨƐŚŽƉƐƐƵƌǀĞLJĞĚ͘>ŝǀĞŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐǁĞƌĞĂůůŝĚĞŶƟĮĞĚĂƐEŽƌƚŚĨƌŝĐĂŶ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐAtelerix algirus͖ƐŬŝŶƐ
ĐŽƵůĚƉŽƚĞŶƟĂůůLJŚĂǀĞďĞĞŶĞŝƚŚĞƌƚŚŝƐƐƉĞĐŝĞƐŽƌĞƐĞƌƚ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐParaechinus aethiopicus.
/ŵĂŐĞϭ͘>ŝǀĞEŽƌƚŚĨƌŝĐĂŶ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐAtelerix algirusĨŽƌƐĂůĞĂƚĂ
ŚĞƌďĂůŝƐƚŝŶDĂƌƌĂŬĞĐŚ;:ƵŶĞϮϬϭϯͿ͘
ƉŽƚĞŶƟĂůůLJ ƚŚĞLJ ĐŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ĞƐĞƌƚ ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐ͛Ɛ
;ǁŚĞŶ ŽŶůLJ ƚŚĞ ďĂĐŬ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐŬŝŶ ŝƐ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ŝĚĞŶƟĨLJŝŶŐ
ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐƚŽƚŚĞƐƉĞĐŝĞƐůĞǀĞůďĞĐŽŵĞƐĚŝĸĐƵůƚͿ͘
ĂƐĂďůĂŶĐĂĐůĞĂƌůLJƐƚĂŶĚƐŽƵƚĂƐĂƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚŵĂƌŬĞƚ͕
ǁŝƚŚ ŽŶ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƐŽŵĞ ϮϬ ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ
ĞĂĐŚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƚŚƌĞĞ ƐƵƌǀĞLJƐ͘  DĂƌƌĂŬĞƐŚ͕ ƐƵƌǀĞLJĞĚ ĮǀĞ
ƟŵĞƐ͕ŚĂĚ ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐĨŽƌƐĂůĞĚƵƌŝŶŐĞĂĐŚƐƵƌǀĞLJ͕ǁŝƚŚ
an average of some four individuals per survey. Other
markets typically had smaller numbers for sale and
ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŶŽƚ ŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ĞĂĐŚ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞƌLJ
ƐƵƌǀĞLJ͘/ŶZĂďĂƚĂŶĚKƵũĚĂĂďŽƵƚĂƋƵĂƌƚĞƌŽĨƚŚĞƐŚŽƉƐ
ƐĞůůŝŶŐǁŝůĚůŝĨĞŚĂĚŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐĨŽƌƐĂůĞ;ŝ͘Ğ͕͘ϯŽƵƚŽĨϭϮŝŶ
ZĂďĂƚĂŶĚϮŽƵƚŽĨϵ ŝŶZĂďĂƚͿ͕ǁŚĞƌĞĂƐƚŚŝƐǁĂƐĂďŽƵƚ
ŽŶĞŝŶϭϬŝŶ&Ğnj;ϰͬϮϳͿ͕ĂƐĂďůĂŶĐĂ;ϰͬϯϭͿĂŶĚDĂƌƌĂŬĞƐŚ
;ϱͬϱϬͿ͘
© ĂŶŝĞůĞƌŐŝŶ

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2015 | 7(5): 7131–7137
Hedgehog trade in Morocco Nijman & Bergin
ϳϭϯϰ
dǁŽͲƚŚŝƌĚƐ  ŽĨ  ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽƉƐ ŽīĞƌĞĚ ƐŝŶŐůĞ ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐ
ƐŬŝŶƐĂƚĂƟŵĞ͕ďƵƚǁĞŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚůĂƌŐĞƌŶƵŵďĞƌƐŽŶƚŚƌĞĞ
ŽĐĐĂƐŝŽŶƐ;ϴƐŬŝŶƐŝŶƉƌŝůϮϬϭϰŝŶDĂƌƌĂŬĞƐŚ͖ϭϬƐŬŝŶƐŝŶ
:ƵŶĞϮϬϭϯĂŶĚϮϴƐŬŝŶƐŝŶƉƌŝůϮϬϭϰ͕ďŽƚŚŝŶĂƐĂďůĂŶĐĂͿ
;&ŝŐ͘ϭͿ͘dŚĞƚƌĂĚĞŝŶůŝǀĞŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐǁĂƐůĞƐƐĐůƵƐƚĞƌĞĚ͘
,ĂůĨŽĨ ƚŚĞƐŚŽƉƐŽīĞƌĞĚƐŝŶŐůĞŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐĨŽƌƐĂůĞĂŶĚ
ƚŚĞŽƚŚĞƌŚĂůĨƚǁŽĂŶĚƵƉƚŽƐŝdžŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐ͘
/Ŷ ŵĂƌŬĞƚƐ ǁŚĞƌĞ Ăƚ ůĞĂƐƚ ϭϬ ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐ ǁĞƌĞ
ŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚ͕ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶ ŽĨ ůŝǀĞ ƚƌĂĚĞ ƌĂŶŐĞĚ ĨƌŽŵ
ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ϮϬй ŝŶ ĂƐĂďůĂŶĐĂ ĂŶĚ DĂƌƌĂŬĞƐŚ ƚŽ ĂůŵŽƐƚ
ϱϬй ŝŶ ZĂďĂƚ͘  dǁĞŶƚLJͲŽŶĞ ƐŚŽƉƐ ǁĞƌĞ ĐůĂƐƐŝĮĞĚ ĂƐ
herbalists, i.e., shops containing herbs, spices and oils
ĂŶĚ ĨƌĞƋƵĞŶƚůLJ ĂŶŝŵĂů ƉĂƌƚƐ ƵƐĞĚ ĂƐ ĚĞĐŽƌĂƟŽŶ Žƌ ĨŽƌ
ƐĂůĞ͕ ƚǁŽ ŝŶ KƵĚũĂ ĂŶĚ ^ĂĮ ĂƐ ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌLJŵĞĚŝĐŝŶĞ
ƐŚŽƉƐ͕ŽŶĞŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐŝŶZĂďĂƚǁĂƐĨŽƌƐĂůĞĨŽƌĨŽŽĚŝŶĂ
vegetable stall, and one in Tangier as a petshop (Image
2). This then suggests that the main purpose of the trade
ŝŶ ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐ ŝƐ ƚŽ ƐƵƉƉůLJ ƚŚĞ ĚĞŵĂŶĚ ĨŽƌ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů
;͚ĨŽůŬ͛Ϳ ŵĞĚŝĐŝŶĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ǀĞŶĚŽƌƐ ŝŶĚĞĞĚ ďĂĐŬĞĚ ƵƉ
ƚŚŝƐĂƐƐĞƌƟŽŶ͘  dŚĞƌĞǁĂƐŶŽŝŶĚŝĐĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚĂŶLJŽĨƚŚĞ
ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐǁĞƌĞŝŵƉŽƌƚĞĚĨƌŽŵŽƚŚĞƌĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐĂŶĚƚŚĞ
ƚƌĂĚĞĂƉƉĞĂƌƐƚŽďĞĨƵůůLJĚŽŵĞƐƟĐ͘
'ůŽďĂůĂƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚŽĨŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐŝŶƚƌĂĚĞ
We located 34 contemporary studies on the
medical use of or trade in 12 or possibly 13 species of
ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐĨƌŽŵϮϯĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ;dĂďůĞϮͿ͘EŽŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ
ŽŶƚŚĞŵĞĚŝĐĂůƵƐĞŽƌƚƌĂĚĞŝŶ^ŽŵĂůŝ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐAtelerix
sclateri Žƌ DĂĚƌĂƐ ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐ Paraechinus nudiventris,
ĂŶĚ ƉŽƐƐŝďůLJ ƌĂŶĚƚ͛Ɛ ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐ P. h y p o m e l a s ͕ ǁĂƐ
ĨŽƵŶĚ͘  ^ŝdž ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ ;ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŽƵƌƐͿ ǁĞƌĞ ƋƵĂŶƟƚĂƟǀĞ
ŝŶ ŶĂƚƵƌĞ͕ ƌĞƉŽƌƟŶŐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĨƌĞƋƵĞŶĐLJ ĂŶĚ ĂďƵŶĚĂŶĐĞ
ŽĨŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐ͕ƚŚĞŽƚŚĞƌƐǁĞƌĞĂůů ƋƵĂůŝƚĂƟǀĞŝŶ ŶĂƚƵƌĞ͘
While most reports referred to the trade in hedgehogs
ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐĂůůLJĨŽƌ;ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂůͿŵĞĚŝĐŝŶĂůƉƵƌƉŽƐĞƐ͕ŽŶůLJƐŝdž
ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚƚŚĞŝƌƚƌĂĚĞĨŽƌĨŽŽĚ͘
/^h^^/KE
KƵƌ ƐƵƌǀĞLJƐ ƐŚŽǁ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐͶƉƌŝŵĂƌŝůLJ ƚŚĞ
EŽƌƚŚ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐ ďƵƚ ĂůƐŽ ƉŽƐƐŝďůLJ ƚŽ Ă ůĞƐƐĞƌ
ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ƚŚĞ ĞƐĞƌƚ ,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐͶĂƌĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ŽƉĞŶůLJ
ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ DŽƌŽĐĐŽ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ďŽƚŚ ůŝǀĞ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ ĂŶĚ
skins present in half of the markets surveyed. Many
ƚƌĂĚĞƌƐŽīĞƌĞĚƐŵĂůůĞƌ ŶƵŵďĞƌƐ ĂƚĂŶLJŐŝǀĞŶ ƟŵĞ͕ ďƵƚ
ƐŽŵĞĚĞĂůƚǁŝƚŚŐƌĞĂƚĞƌŶƵŵďĞƌƐ͘  DŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ŚĂůĨ ƚŚĞ
ŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐǁĞŽďƐĞƌǀĞĚǁĞƌĞŝŶƚŚĞĐŝƟĞƐŽĨĂƐĂďůĂŶĐĂ
ĂŶĚDĂƌƌĂŬĞƐŚĂŶĚŝŶĚĞĞĚƚŚĞƐĞƚǁŽĐŝƟĞƐƐƚĂŶĚŽƵƚĂƐ
ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚĐĞŶƚƌĞƐĨŽƌƚŚĞǁŝůĚůŝĨĞƚƌĂĚĞŝŶDŽƌŽĐĐŽ;ǀĂŶ
>ĂǀŝĞƌĞŶ ϮϬϬϴ͖ DĂƌƟŶ Θ WĞƌƌLJͲDĂƌƟŶ ϮϬϭϮ͖ ĞƌŐŝŶ Θ
EŝũŵĂŶϮϬϭϰ͖EŝũŵĂŶĞƚĂů͘ϮϬϭϱͿ͘
,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐŝŶDŽƌŽĐĐŽĂƌĞ ƚƌĂĚĞĚ ůĂƌŐĞůLJƚŽƐƵƉƉůLJ
ƚŚĞĚĞŵĂŶĚĨŽƌƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂůŵĞĚŝĐŝŶĞ͕ĂƐƚŚĞLJŝŶĚĞĞĚĂƌĞ
ŝŶŽƚŚĞƌƉĂƌƚƐŽĨƚŚĞDĞĚŝƚĞƌƌĂŶĞĂŶ͘,ĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐĂƌĞƵƐĞĚ
as a cure for a variety of illnesses including tuberculosis,
haemorrhoids and scrofula (lymphadenopathy of the
ŶĞĐŬͿŝŶdƵƌŬĞLJ;^ĞnjŝŬĞƚĂů͘ϮϬϬϭ͖njĞƌΘƌŦƐĂŶϮϬϬϲͿ͕ůŽǁ
ƐĞdžĚƌŝǀĞŽƌŝŵƉŽƚĞŶĐĞ͕ĨĞǀĞƌĂŶĚŵĂůĂƌŝĂŝŶƚŚĞ>ĞǀĂŶƚ
;>Ğǀ ϮϬϬϯͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ǀĂŐŝŶĂů ĐŽŵƉůĂŝŶƚƐ ďLJ ŶŽƌƚŚĞĂƐƚĞƌŶ
/ƚĂůŝĂŶƐ;YƵĂǀĞΘWŝĞƌŽŶŝϮϬϭϯͿ͘&ŽƌDŽƌŽĐĐŽƚŚĞŵŽƐƚ
detailed accounts for the various uses of hedgehogs are
ŐŝǀĞŶďLJtĞƐƚĞƌŵĂƌĐŬ;ϭϵϮϲͿĂŶĚ&ŽŐŐ ;ϭϵϰϭͿ͗/ŶŚĂůŝŶŐ
ƚŚĞƐŵŽŬĞŽĨĂŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐŬŝŶŽƌŝƚƐďƌŝƐƚůĞƐǁŚĞŶďƵƌŶĞĚ
is a remedy for fever, male impotence, and urinary
illnesses, and consuming a hedgehog penis, boiled in
ŽŝůŽƌďƵƩĞƌ͕ĐĂŶĐƵƌĞŵĂůĞ ŝŵƉŽƚĞŶĐĞ͘  dŚĞ ďůŽŽĚ ŝƐ Ă
ĐƵƌĞĨŽƌ ƌŝŶŐǁŽƌŵ͕ǁĂƌƚƐĂŶĚŚĞĂůƐƚŚĞĐƌĂĐŬĞĚƐŬŝŶŽĨ
/ŵĂŐĞϮ͘,ĞƌďĂůŝƐƚƐƚĂůůŝŶDĂƌƌĂŬĞƐŚ͕ƐĞůůŝŶŐĂǀĂƌŝĞƚLJŽĨŚĞƌďƐ͕
ƐƉŝĐĞƐ͕ŽŝůƐ͕ƐƚƵīĞĚĂŶŝŵĂůƐĂŶĚĂŶŝŵĂůƉĂƌƚƐ͘
&ŝŐƵƌĞϭ͘EƵŵďĞƌƐŽĨŚĞĚŐĞŚŽŐƐ;ƐŬŝŶƐ͕ŽƉĞŶďĂƌƐ͖ůŝǀĞ͕ĐůŽƐĞĚďĂƌƐͿ
ƐŽůĚŝŶŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐŚŽƉƐĂŶĚƐƚŽƌĞƐƐŚŽǁŝŶŐƚŚĂƚŵŽƐƚƐŚŽƉƐŽīĞƌĞĚ
ƐŝŶŐůĞƐŬŝŶƐĨŽƌƐĂůĞďƵƚĂĨĞǁĞŝŐŚƚŽƌŵŽƌĞ͕ǁŚĞƌĞĂƐůŝǀĞĂŶŝŵĂůƐ
ĂƌĞŵŽƐƚůLJŽīĞƌĞĚĂƐƐŝŶŐůĞŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐĂŶĚƵƉƚŽƐŝdžĂƚĂƟŵĞ͘
© ĂŶŝĞůĞƌŐŝŶ

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2015 | 7(5): 7131–7137
Hedgehog trade in Morocco Nijman & Bergin

     

Erinaceus europaeus Spain x 

E. roumanicus Romania x 
 x Pieroni et al. 2014

E. concolor Turkey x 

 x
E. amurensis  x
 Guo et al. 1997
 
 
 x x 

Hemiechinus collaris India x 
Pakistan x Noureen et al. 2012
 x

Paraechinus aethiopicus Israel x 
 x Yirga et al. 2011
P. micropus India x x 
India x 
P. hypomelas* Iran x Maghsudi 2007

Mesechinus dauuricus  x Stubbe et al. 2008
Mongolia x 
M. hughi  x x Smith et al. 2008

Atelerix algirus Morocco x x 
 This study
Morocco x 

A. frontalis  x 
 x 
 x x 
A. albiventris Benin x  
 x
 
 x
Guinea x Ziegler et al. 2002
Mali x
Senegal x 
 x
Magige 2012
Uganda x Shepherd et al. 2013.



Hemiechinus collarisParaechinus aethiopicus

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2015 | 7(5): 7131–7137
Hedgehog trade in Morocco Nijman & Bergin



as an amulet against the evil eye.
     

       
      
        
      
         
       
        
     
          
various other species of hedgehogs. Only for three
   Erinaceus amurensis,
   A. frontalis, and White-
  A. albiventris) from three countries

          

 




      
as to ensure that this does not threaten the survival of
these species.


Erinaceus europaeus

           
 Atelerix algirus

       
of the Sahara.     

           
     
 The Economic Value of Wild
Resources in Senegal
          
Moroccan markets. 
         
     Biodiversity
    

             
       


  Mongolian Red List of Mammals.

         
       
       
    

Medicine
          
     
       
231pp.
       
Turkey). 
          
273–303.
     Vertebradossilvestresusados en
       
Etnobiología
        Journal of

 Sustainability of
       

       
hedgehog      

  
    Mammals of Africa -

 West Africa
   Paraechinus aethiopicus    

2014.
        
    . University of Pennsylvania Press,


       
   

      Wildlife trade
         
  Conserving China’s Biodiversity.


    Journal of Ethnopharmacology

   
 Journal of Ethnopharmacology

 

       
    

        
Sahra in Iran. Iran and the Caucasus   

         
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

     
Swara
         
        
.

     

African Study Monographs

Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 April 2015 | 7(5): 7131–7137
Hedgehog trade in Morocco Nijman & Bergin

          
        

Medellin (eds.).        
 . Oxford University Press, Oxford (in the
press).
          
    Records of the Zoological Survey

        th 

          

    
 Journal of Mountain Science  

        
         
       . Springer,

 
      
Journal of Ethnopharmacology

 Forests, Livelihoods and

        

South African Journal of Wildlife Research
     Mesechinus hughi



        
 Mesechinus dauuricus

        
         

   Ritual and Belief in Morocco. Macmillan,


 

         Springer,


    
       
Medical Sciences
         
         
Republic of Guinea.    

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