Synthesising bushmeat research effort in West and Central Africa: A new regional database

•Hunting wild animals supports human livelihoods, but is also a threat to animal conservation.•We created a database for bushmeat offtake, consumption and trade in West and Central Africa.•We collated data on 177 species from 275 sites across 11 countries collected over 30years.•The database enables analyses of spatial and temporal patterns, and of drivers of bushmeat harvesting.•Knowledge gaps and future research priorities for bushmeat harvesting can be identified using the database.