Law enforcement staff perceptions of illegal hunting and wildlifeudconservation in Gonarezhou National Park, southeastern Zimbabwe

摘要

Globally, pressure from the illegal harvesting of wildlife is a recurrent issue forudprotected area management. In order to ensure the effective conservation of wildlife resources,udlaw enforcement has been identified as one of the most important components of protected areaudmanagement. Our study aimed at addressing the following two research questions: (1) what areudthe perceptions of law enforcement staff in Gonarezhou National Park (GNP), Zimbabwe, aboutudillegal hunting practices, illegal hunter’s characteristics, wild animals commonly targeted andudtrends of poaching in the park; and, (2) what are the suggestions for reducing illegal huntingudand enhancing wildlife conservation in GNP ecosystem? Data were collected using a semistructuredudquestionnaire administered through interviews from 42 law enforcement staffudrepresenting 47 % of the total law enforcement staff in GNP from February to May 2011. Ourudresults showed that 76 % (n = 32) of the patrol rangers perceived that most illegal hunters wereudbetween 21 and 30 years. Nearly all respondents (95 %; n = 40) reported that most poachersudwere residents of villages situated within 20 km from the boundary of GNP. Medium to largeudwild herbivores were reportedly the most illegally animal hunted species whilst large carnivoresudwere the least illegally hunted animals. Most of the respondents (79 %, n = 33) perceived thatudpoaching activities had declined in GNP ecosystem between 2005 and 2010 due to an increase inudarrests. Increasing conservation awareness and education in adjacent communal areas wouldudhelp to further reduce illegal hunting and promote wildlife conservation.