Local people’s knowledge of topi (Damaliscus lunatus) and their illegal hunting for bushmeat consumption in the Serengeti Ecosystem

Abstract

AbstractIllegal hunting for bushmeat in or near protected areas is a significant threat to biodiversity conservation. This study assessed knowledge by local people of the occurrence of topi (Damaliscus lunatus) in the Serengeti Ecosystem and linked it with the level of illegal hunting for bushmeat consumption. A total of 150 households from three villages were randomly selected and interviewed using semistructured questionnaires to gather the required information. The majority of local people (91.4%) were able to identify the topi species correctly, and 71.0% reported that topi were still available in their area. Moreover, the local people's knowledge of the occurrence of topi and their bushmeat consumption differed significantly between tribes and age classes. The majority of respondents (97.8%) had no hunting permit. These results indicate that illegal hunting for either subsistence or commercial purposes occurs in the area and is currently a major threat to topi survival. We recommend the establishment of bushmeat butcheries since many people prefer to eat bushmeat. Finally, we call for further research to specifically assess the magnitude of the decline of the topi population in the area.