Predictors of elephant poaching in a wildlife crime hotspot: The Ruvuma landscape of southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique

TY - JOUR

T1 - Predictors of elephant poaching in a wildlife crime hotspot

T2 - The Ruvuma landscape of southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique

AU - Zafra-Calvo, Noelia

AU - Lobo, J.M.

AU - Prada, C.

AU - Nielsen, Martin Reinhardt

AU - Burgess, Neil David

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - Understanding the spatial distribution of elephant carcasses in relation to ecological characteristics and human activities is critical to developing targeted management strategies for reducing poaching. We employ a spatial modelling approach to quantify the relative contribution of multiple climatic, ecological, human and protected area management predictors of the number of elephant carcasses in a recognized poaching hotspot: the Ruvuma landscape of northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania. This includes the Niassa Reserve in the south and the Selous Game Reserve in the north. In Mozambique, the number of elephant carcasses is positively associated with State-managed protected areas such as Niassa Reserve, but particularly with environmental variables including low rainfall and high temperatures. In Tanzania, elephant carcasses are positively associated with community-managed sites. A strong focus on effective management of protected areas in the Ruvuma landscape is crucial to reducing the killing of elephants.

AB - Understanding the spatial distribution of elephant carcasses in relation to ecological characteristics and human activities is critical to developing targeted management strategies for reducing poaching. We employ a spatial modelling approach to quantify the relative contribution of multiple climatic, ecological, human and protected area management predictors of the number of elephant carcasses in a recognized poaching hotspot: the Ruvuma landscape of northern Mozambique and southern Tanzania. This includes the Niassa Reserve in the south and the Selous Game Reserve in the north. In Mozambique, the number of elephant carcasses is positively associated with State-managed protected areas such as Niassa Reserve, but particularly with environmental variables including low rainfall and high temperatures. In Tanzania, elephant carcasses are positively associated with community-managed sites. A strong focus on effective management of protected areas in the Ruvuma landscape is crucial to reducing the killing of elephants.

KW - African elephant

KW - Community management

KW - East Africa

KW - Protected areas

KW - Water availability

U2 - 10.1016/j.jnc.2017.11.006

DO - 10.1016/j.jnc.2017.11.006

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1617-1381

VL - 41

SP - 79

EP - 87

JO - Journal for Nature Conservation

JF - Journal for Nature Conservation

ER -