Felony or act of justice? - Illegal killing of large carnivores as defiance of authorities

摘要

Large carnivore management in Finland implemented under international conservation agreements has faced a severe legitimacy crisis as Finnish wolf conservation lacks both normative and empirical legitimacy. Local people challenge the authorities via active and passive resistance which manifests in illegal killings of large carnivores and in support and silent acceptance by community members. This article examines the sociopolitical dimensions of illegal hunting in a holistic manner by categorizing the crime according to the characteristics of the hunting violator and the motives for illegal actions against large carnivores, and by examining illegal hunting as a defiance of the authorities by revealing the neutralization techniques used. Data have been collected from District Court sentences and Police Investigation Records over a 6-year period (2005-2010). In addition, two hunting violators and two game management officials were interviewed. Illegal killing of large carnivores is a sociopolitical crime and manifests as explicit resistance and indirect defiance of game management authorities and EU-drafted management actions. Neutralization techniques are used to negate the shame from the stigma and sanctions associated with violating the law. Hunting violators have become noble bandits as they defy the central authorities whilst supporting local people in their struggle to maintain a livelihood and a safe living environment in large carnivore territories. The challenges inherent in the conservation of large carnivores in the context of a defiant agrarian activity address the means that develop the predators' role as a community resource. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.