Cannibalism

For non-human cannibalism, see Cannibalism (zoology). For other uses, see Cannib
al (disambiguation).
Cannibalism is the act or practice of humans eating the flesh or internal organs
of other human beings. A person who practices cannibalism is called a cannibal.
The expression "cannibalism" has been extended into zoology to mean one individ
ual of a species consuming all or part of another individual of the same species
as food, including sexual cannibalism.
The Island Carib people of the Lesser Antilles, from whom the word cannibalism d
erives, acquired a long-standing reputation as cannibals following the recording
of their legends in the 17th century.[1] Some controversy exists over the accur
acy of these legends and the prevalence of actual cannibalism in the culture. Ca
nnibalism was widespread in the past among humans in many parts of the world, co
ntinuing into the 19th century in some isolated South Pacific cultures, and to t
he present day in parts of tropical Africa. Cannibalism was practiced in New Gui
nea and in parts of the Solomon Islands, and flesh markets existed in some parts
of Melanesia.[2] Fiji was once known as the 'Cannibal Isles'.[3] Cannibalism ha
s been well documented around the world, from Fiji to the Amazon Basin to the Co
ngo to Maori New Zealand.[4] Neanderthals are believed to have practiced canniba
lism,[5][6] and Neanderthals may have been eaten by anatomically modern humans.[
7]