Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
these two, an estimate of the sustainability of offtake was obtained. Here we con-
centrate only on the hunter behaviour aspect of the work.
The paper's research aim was to study the spatial distribution and intensity of
hunting so as to evaluate the effects of hunting on the mammals of the area. This
was a component of the development of a management plan for the Dja protected
area. Although villagers were hunting inside the reserve, they were working within
the village's zone of utilisation, and hence were not acting illegally.
Key elements of the experimental design :
The authors used a Global Positioning System (GPS) to map hunting paths,
snare trails and hunting camps of 14 active hunters.
They divided the area into three zones based on the density of snaring that
they found (the lower density zones were further from the village).
They carried out large numbers of hunter follows (on average 5 days per
month per hunter). Hunter follows involve the researcher accompanying
hunting or snare-checking trips, and are a useful way of collecting behavioural
data. They can be difficult to arrange, because the hunter may be reluctant to
participate in case the researcher slows him down.
They collected data on the animals caught, including age and sex and, impor-
tantly, whether the animal had rotted in the snare or not. This measure of
wastage is particularly important in assessing sustainability.
The data analysis was relatively simple. It involved calculating means by zone
and season for snare densities, how often hunters visited their snares, wastage
through rotting, and whether animals were sold or eaten at home. The focus of the
study was more strongly towards estimating animal abundance than analysis of the
hunter data. If the study had been more focused on hunters, then a GLM approach
such as used by de Merode et al . (2004, see below) would have been a good way to
analyse the data.
The results of the study include:
Hunting activity was strongly seasonal.
Wastage varied by zone. In the zone closest to the village, snares were visited
often and at the height of the snaring season only 5.7% of animals were
wasted. This compares with 28.5% in the furthest zone.
Most of the animals captured in the zone near the village were eaten at home,
while most of the ones captured further away were sold. This suggests that
more commercialised hunters were prepared to travel further.
One avenue for future investigation is based the rapid advance of GPS technology.
One promising software package is Cybertracker (Figure 3.5). This uses a palm
pilot to record data which can be automatically georeferenced by a GPS. It can be
programmed to allow even non-literate users to enter data, using pictures instead
of words. Thus hunters can carry them as they go hunting, and quickly enter data
without the need for a researcher to be present. This gives the possibility for much
more detailed data collected at a higher spatial resolution and with a larger sample
Search WWH ::




Custom Search