Bushmeat hunting in Serengeti, Tanzania: An important economic activity to local people

Abstract

Unsustainable use of natural resources poses threats to conservation and livelihoods. High-levels of bushmeat hunting threaten wildlife populations and extinction of some species. This paper gives an overview of bushmeat hunting in Serengeti, Tanzania. The data on hunting was collected through interviewing 477 households in 10 villages surrounding Serengeti National Park. Our research indicates that bushmeat hunting was taking place in Serengeti and is an important economic activity in Western Serengeti. The hunting preferences differ between Western and Eastern where the latter preferred small and the former, medium-big sized wildlife. The majority depends on bushmeat as a source of protein and a few relied on it for protein and income. In Western Serengeti hunting was taking place inside the national park and game reserves and in occasions within villages. In Eastern Serengeti, hunting took place within villages. Immigration of people, ethnicity, and number of livestock were cited to influence bushmeat hunting. We suggest strengthening and widening the coverage of community based conservation outreach programs; opening doors for sustainable use; and widening the scope of benefit sharing to address household livelihoods. Strengthening law enforcement and redefining the Serengeti ecosystem are essential actions for conserving wildlife within and outside protected area networks.   Key words: Bushmeat hunting, conservation, game reserves, local people, Serengeti National Park, sustainable use, Tanzania.