Category: Poachers | Date: Jul 04 2008 | By: Kimojino

The three poachers arrested this afternoon.

As those who have been following the twitter updates know, rangers this morning arrested three poachers near Sand River. The poachers had killed a total of six wildebeest.

In our office we have some questionnaires that were left for us by a student at the college of African Wildlife Management in Mweka, Tanzania, which were to be filled in by poachers arrested by our rangers.

Some of you on twitter showed interest in the answers and so we have published the questionnaires so you can find out more. For confidentiality purposes we have left out some of the answers.

Village:

Level of Education: Standard 7 (up to age 16)

Marital Status: Single

Tribe:                                     Age: 16

1. What wildlife species do you mostly hunt?

Wildebeests

2. How often do you hunt?

One time hunter.

3. What are the reasons for you to hunt?

Income.

4. Who are your main customers?

People in the village.

5. What is your mode of selling bushmeat?

House to house. Buyers also come for the meat in our house.

6.  Which specific areas do you sell bush meat?

Sometimes when the meat supply is sufficien, middle men.

7. Which season do you mostly prefer to hunt?

Dry Season (June - November)

8. What time do you prefer to hunt?

Day and night.

9. How has the hunt and success rate change over the past five years.

No answer.

10. What happens when you’re caught?

Sometimes depending on an individual, fines are imposed by the police.

11. What tools do you commonly use for hunting?

Snares.

12. How do you transport bushmeat from hunting site to the village?

Carry by ourselves.

13. How much do you sell a kilogram of bushmeat?

Sell by piece as dried, eg. a piece cost KSh 500 (US $8)

14. Please name the places that illegal hunting for bushmeat occurs?

15. What health implications have you known related to bushmeat consumption?

No answer.

16. Are there any wildlife conservation awareness programs in your area?

No.

17. If yes, how often.

N/a

18. Have you ever been arrested?

No.

19. If yes, how many times?

N/a

20.  Do you have other sources of income?

Yes.

21. If yes, what is your major source of income?

Agricultural activities.

22. What do you think are the alternatives to the hunting for bushmeat?

Agriculture, Bussiness (Hawking of clothes, maize), and cattle rearing or keeping.