Trends in Illegal Killing of African Elephants (Loxodonta africana) in the Luangwa and Zambezi Ecosystems of Zambia

Vincent R Nyirenda,Willem J Myburgh,Peter A Lindsey,Brian K Reilly,Chansa Chomba,Edward Phiri,Ngawo Namukonde,Ian Stevenson

doi:10.5539/enrr.v5n2p24

Abstract

The resurgence in African elephant (Loxodonta africana) poaching for ivory and bushmeat threatens the persistence of elephant populations, continent wide. In addressing the scourge, monitoring of illegal killings of elephants plays a key role in effectively directing counter measures. This study evaluated spatiotemporal trends and patterns in elephant poaching. Illegal killing of elephants occurred mostly along major rivers, mainly in late dry season during which period elephants were more vulnerable to illegal exploitation. However, during the wet season, retaliatory killings of “problem elephants” marauding crop fields also took place. Elephant poaching was attributed to socio-economic and ecological drivers such as high poverty levels, weak governance, high demand for elephant ivory, and low social capital. These drivers are likely to apply to other elephant range states as well. We propose that local strategies that empower communities economically, build broad-based law enforcement capacity in stakeholders to counter illegal killing of elephants, and which positively shift the risk/reward ratio for ivory poachers trade, be urgently developed and implemented.

Highlights

In the Luangwa Valley, Zambia, African elephant populations experienced excessive illegal exploitation in the 1970’s and 80’s, primarily for ivory and later for both ivory and bushmeat (Leader-Williams, Albon, & Berry, 1990; Jachmann & Billiouw, 1997; Dalal-Clayton & Child, 2003) (Table 3)
We propose that local strategies that empower communities economically, build broad-based law enforcement capacity in stakeholders to counter illegal killing of elephants, and which positively shift the risk/reward ratio for ivory poachers trade, be urgently developed and implemented
Monitoring of the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) programme was established in 60 selected sites of the elephant range in Africa and Asia by CITES

Summary

Introduction

In the Luangwa Valley, Zambia, African elephant populations experienced excessive illegal exploitation in the 1970’s and 80’s, primarily for ivory and later for both ivory and bushmeat (Leader-Williams, Albon, & Berry, 1990; Jachmann & Billiouw, 1997; Dalal-Clayton & Child, 2003) (Table 3). Lower Zambezi ecosystem experienced excessive elephant poaching during the late 1970s and early1980s, and the illegal harvest of elephants has continued until present (Table 4). Monitoring of the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) programme was established in 60 selected sites of the elephant range in Africa and Asia by CITES The MIKE programme provides information for making management and enforcement decisions, improving ability to monitor elephant populations, detecting changes in levels of illegal killing, and assessing the effectiveness of law enforcement. This study attempts to achieve site-based understanding on elephant poaching to provide bases from which to make management decisions

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion