Hunting Research Articles

Ethnozoological knowledge of diversity, folk taxonomy, and animal hunting among the Baduy in Banten, Indonesia

Abstract. Iskandar BS, Iskandar J, Mulyanto D, Supriatna J. 2024. Ethnozoological knowledge of diversity, folk taxonomy, and animal hunting among the Baduy in Banten, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 25: 5031-5045. Presently, biocultural systems, an emergent ecosystem, are experiencing significant growth in traditional villages due to the presence of natural resources. Baduy, a sacred community rich in natural and environmental resources, has a high diversity of animals, which needs to be managed based on their unique Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and beliefs. Therefore, this research focused on the TEK of the community on animal diversity, folk taxonomy, and wildlife hunting. The qualitative with an ethnozoological method was used with data collected from field observation, semi-structured interviews with informants, and participant observation. We found 90 species of birds, 16 mammals, 14 fishes, 10 insects, and 9 reptiles known by the Baduy in Banten, Indonesia and at least 3 taxa levels of Baduy zoological classification. The primary, secondary, and third taxa represented life forms, species, and races or sub-species. Animals can be classified based on their distinctive morphological characteristics, specific behavior, time activity, special habitat, and functions. The hunting of animals carried out by the Inner Baduy community was in accordance with customary rules supervised by informal Baduy leaders. However, unlike the Inner Baduy, Outer Baduy has hunted wild animals for semi-commercial purposes instead of subsistence purposes. In conclusion, safeguarding the Baduy people's land, language, and culture plays an important role in conserving animals in the rural ecosystem of the traditional communities.

Author Correction: Regional patterns of wild animal hunting in African tropical forests

Author Correction: Regional patterns of wild animal hunting in African tropical forests

Community, Family and Animal Conservation Sustainability in the Perspective of Normative Law and Maqasid Sharia

Animal conservation aims to preserve and breed animals to achieve the benefits of a sustainable natural ecosystemincluding community and family. One of the efforts made by the government to provide information and knowledge to the public in an attempt to minimize wildlife hunting is through the legal protection of animals, as stated in Law Number 5 of 1990 concerning the Conservation of Biological Resources and Their Ecosystems, and Government Regulation Number 13 of 1994 concerning the Hunting of Game Animals. The research method used is juridical-normative with a legislative and socio-legal approach. Then, it is linked to the policy of animal conservation, which is examined from the Maqasid Shariah perspective. The research results provided recommendations to the government in creating legislation or decision policies oriented to animals that are not yet rare. These recommendations include educating the public about rare and non-rare animal species, setting educational targets, supporting conservation efforts, and establishing animal breeding programs. Furthermore, from the perspective of Maqasid Sharia, the conservation of these animals falls under the category of daruriyah, which means that the preservation and protection of wildlife are essential for the sustainability and keeping of the Hifz al-Mal element (natural ecosystem wealth).

Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) Recolonization in Hungary: Does the Predation Risk Affect the Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Population?

The populations and distribution areas of large carnivores have declined all over the world due to extirpation and habitat alteration and degradation. However, the grey wolf (Canis lupus) has recovered in Europe in recent decades and has been reappearing in Hungary since the 1990s. Since the dominant prey of this carnivore is the red deer (Cervus elaphus) and the wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Central and Eastern Europe, we aimed to study the impact of wolves on local deer populations. Based on hunters' opinions, we expected an increasing wolf presence and intense effects of wolves on the stress level and body condition of deer. First, we examined the occupied area by wolf in the North Hungarian Mountains. The distribution map was based on a questionnaire among the game managers. To measure the influence of the reappearing predator population on the red deer individuals, we estimated the body condition (kidney fat and bone marrow index) and stress hormone level of faecal samples. We compared them between the areas colonised by wolves and control sites in the mountains. We revealed an increased distribution area of wolves in the mountains since 2014. The stress hormone level was lower in the wolf-free sites in the case of faeces gathered from the ground, but there was similar amount of cortisol in the samples collected from the hunted animals. The body condition indices were not different between the two area types (average kidney fat index > 100% and almost 100% for the bone marrow fat content). Our results do not support a very intense recent impact of the wolf population on the body condition and stress level of red deer in Hungary.

Possibility of Vertical Transmission of Sarcocystis Spp. in Sika Deer in Japan.

In recent years, the wild deer population in Japan has grown exponentially, causing severe feeding damage to the agricultural and forestry industries. Therefore, the game meat industry is being promoted for effective utilization of hunted animals. Wild animals are not hygienically controlled and can serve as reservoirs for pathogenic microorganisms. However, epidemiological information on wild animals in Japan remains insufficient. Recently, food poisoning-like cases have occurred because of raw venison infection with Sarcocystis spp. As the prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in sika deer is very high in Japan and even fawns are infected, this study attempted to verify the vertical infection of Sarcocystis spp. in sika deer in Japan. Genetic detection of Sarcocystis 18S ribosomal RNA in fetal and maternal tissues from early to late gestation in sika deer revealed Sarcocystis Types 1-5 and Sarcocystis fayeri in the mother and fetus. Types 1, 2, 4, and 5 were detected in the maternal tissues of Ezo sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis) in Hokkaido, whereas Types 1 and 2 and S. fayeri were detected in fetuses. Types 1-5 were detected in Honshu sika deer (Cervus nippon centralis) in Mie Prefecture but not in the fetuses. Types 1, 2, and 4 were detected in the udder and milk samples. This indicates that Sarcocystis Types 1 and 2 and S. fayeri have the ability to pass through the placenta of sika deer and invade fetal tissues and Types 1, 2, and 4 may be transmitted orally via milk. These findings suggest that there is transplacental and transmammary transmission of Sarcocystis spp. in sika deer.

Does endemic mammal conservation in Jamaica conflict with maintaining biocultural heritage?

AbstractUnderstanding human–wildlife interactions within biocultural systems is essential to support evidence‐based conservation and Indigenous cultural integrity, and to identify inclusive “win‐win” options for coexistence with threatened species. Jamaica's Blue and John Crow Mountains contain a population of the Endangered Jamaican hutia or coney (Geocapromys brownii), one of the last surviving Caribbean mammals, as well as Maroon communities that practice hunting as a traditional cultural activity. An interview survey was conducted in two Maroon communities within this conservation‐priority landscape to understand local knowledge and attitudes toward coneys, and the cultural importance and dynamics of interactions with coneys. Experience of coney consumption is relatively widespread through small‐scale local trade in hunted animals, but few respondents consider hunting to be of cultural or economic importance, very few people specifically hunt coneys, and most respondents support coney conservation. Conversely, crop damage caused by coneys is considered a substantial problem and is associated with decreased conservation support. Although we estimate that almost 530 coneys were killed during the previous year by our respondent sample, local perceptions suggest that hunting may not be having a negative impact on the coney population, and coney conservation can hopefully be integrated equitably with Maroon cultural values and needs.

A method for constructing demographic profiles of Capra aegagrus/C. hircus using logarithm size index scaling

Sex-specific demographic profiles of archaeological animal bone assemblages are key to being able to reconstruct the varied strategies used by ancient hunters and herders to harvest animals from both wild and managed herds. Nearly 25 years ago Zeder developed a method for constructing these profiles based on the study of a large collection of modern wild and domestic caprines that combined metric data and a refined system for determining age of death of archaeological caprine bones (Zeder, 2001, 2006a, 2008; Zeder and Hesse, 2000). The utility of this method was limited, however, by its reliance on individual dimensions from single elements, subjecting the method to sample size limitations. This paper presents a new method for constructing demographic profiles for assemblages of goat remains from archaeological sites drawing on a method developed by Zeder and Lemoine for Sus scrofa (Zeder and Lemoine, 2020a). The method uses normalized metric data following the Logarithm Size Index (LSI) scaling technique designed to address sample size issues. LSI values of post-crania metric data are shown to reflect the strong sexual dimorphism in body size in modern wild goats which is evident in the post-crania of animals over one year of age. Once adjusted for regional body size differences, as well as differences in the scaling of different post-cranial elements, the mid-point of the range of LSI values is shown to be a reliable and highly accurate way of distinguishing between the elements of females and males and for constructing sex-specific age profiles based on these identifications. This method is applied to metric data of goat assemblages from four archaeological sites in the Zagros — two representing hunted animals (Yafteh Cave and Asiab) and two representing early managed herds (Ganj Dareh and Ali Kosh). The paper concludes by offering recommendations, and caveats, for the use of this method in building sex-specific demographic profiles of ancient goat assemblages.

Status Keberlanjutan Program Pelepasliaran Orangutan Sumatera (Pongo abelii L.) di Bentang Alam Bukit Tiga Puluh Provinsi Jambi

This research aims to analyze the sustainability status and analyze sensitive attributes (leverage analysis) on the sustainability of the Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii L.) reintroduction program in the Bukit Tigapuluh Landscape. The analysis was carried out using the RAPFISH method with four dimensions, namely ecological, economic, social and institutional dimensions which were then validated using the Monte Carlo method, determining the stress value and R2 value. Determining sensitive attributes is done using leverage analysis. The research results show that the sustainability status of the Sumatran Orangutan (Pongo abelii L.) reintroduction program in the Bukit Tigapuluh Landscape in the ecological and economic dimensions is quite sustainable, but in the social and institutional dimensions it is less sustainable. The results of the sensitivity analysis showed that of the total of 36 attributes used, 13 sensitive attributes were identified which influenced the sustainability index value of the Sumatran orangutan reintroduction program namely pressure on the area, number and type of nest trees, forest area area, opportunities for competition (intra and between species), level of habitat suitability, contributing to improving the community's economy, average income against UMP, potential tourist attractions, threat of habitat change, conflict management mechanisms, threat of animal hunting, level of community education and information on regulations related to management rules for Sumatran orangutans.

Shamans and “Dark Agencies”: War, Magical Parasitism, and Re-Enchanted Spirits in Siberia

Alleged practices of magical assault and vampirism are a recurrent feature of popular explanations of misfortune in Tuva, South Siberia. Based on a field study of healing practices in an “Association of Shamans”, this article analyses rituals of redressing curse afflictions in the context of Russian political domination. A central purpose of this discussion is to foreground the centrality of kinds of parasitical worship and occult threat to structures of political power in—and beyond—the territory of Tuva. Focusing on a “cursescape”, which develops from the combative practices of shamans, occult specialists, and office-holders, the article probes a repertoire of shamanic healing symbols. It is argued that healing efficacy is constructed in the process of engaging with hunting symbols and animal spirits, which appear in Indigenous Siberian cosmologies. The analysis shows that ideas of ritual risk underpin the process of symbolic resolution. Whereas shamanic practices provide refuge to spirits evicted from their natural landscapes, Tibetan Buddhism—the unifying religion of Tuva—offers an alternative path of healing the effects of the shamans’ propagation of spirits. The article highlights indigenous perceptions of a “cursed” landscape as a space where the agencies of “darkness” and their political sponsors are confronted with an emancipating religious modality emerging from local Buddhist rituals. The analysis displays the unsolved drama of itinerant spirits and shamanic ancestral souls, whose agency is revealed through successive—yet inauspicious—forms of reincarnation.

Upaya Meningkatkan Minat Belajar Peserta Didik Melalui Permainan Berburu Binatang Dalam Pembelajaran PJOK di SMPN 28 Surabaya

Comfort becomes very important when used as a driver to carry out learning that requires full concentration in receiving all materials. This factor also plays an important role in the success of learning. It can be seen from the comfort of each student. This classroom action research focuses on collecting information on how animal hunting games can increase students' interest in learning. This action was carried out in two cycles. The sample in this study was 30 students of class 9F SMPN 28 Surabaya. The results of the actions of cycle I and cycle II through observation and questionnaires were that there was an increase in students' interest in learning when using animal hunting games.

A Research on Gaziantep Chukar production station

Chukar (Alectoris chukar), is one of the most popular game birds in Turkey. The generation of this species has been greatly reduced in the last century. It is possible to reproduce this bird species, to bring it to nature, to develop hunting tourism in our country, to make special hunting areas and to earn income from hunting tourism. Chukar (Alectoris chukar) is found over a large areas in Turkey as well as over the world. Unfortunately, their population has been decreasing due to human pressure in the country. Breeding stations have been established for the production of this species in Turkey in order to increase their population and make them available for hunting. The breeding stations are the areas where the extinct species are artificially produced and the facilities required for production are established. Their main purpose is to produce extensively species in artificially established facilities, and to place these animals in suitable habitats or new production stations and to benefit from animals placed in production stations as new breeding stations. Chukar breeding, some people in Turkey just as a hobby, is made by some government agencies and research purposes Faculties of Agriculture and Veterinary some universities with the aim to ensure the continuation of his generation in recent years. In this study, located in Gaziantep province, studies were carried out on the production and release of wild animals to the nature at the production stations. General information about the establishment of production stations, production techniques, working order, encountered problems, applications to be made to solve problems and precautions to be taken are given. A detailed investigation and research has been carried out on Chukar Production Station established in Gaziantep province. In this context, Gaziantep Chukar Production Station is located at the provincial borders. After the production of hunting and wild animals produced in this station, they are placed in nature in the docking sites. In this study, deficiencies and problems of the production station mentioned above have been revealed.

The Effects of Fire in Human Life and in the Cuisine from the Paleolithic to the Modern Age

Humans existed on earth 2.5 million years ago and took control of fire after their evolutionary transformations. As a result of consuming cooked meat, there was an increase in the size of the human brain, the use of hands and mental skills. With the beginning of the Neolithic period, the increasing bio-cultural and socio-cultural transformation of humans also affected food preparation, storage and kitchen tools. People started to produce to prepare and consume food, hunt animals and facilitate agriculture. In the past, in addition to frying meat, they found different cooking methods using tools such as fire pits, clay balls and earthenware. The food processing and preservation methods developed and widely used from the Paleolithic period to the Neolithic period are cooking, grinding, drying, salting, seasoning, cheese-yoghurt, oil/sugar storage and fermentation processes, which are explained in detail in the article. As a result of the research, it was seen that all of these methods interacted with fire (and heat) to a greater or lesser extent. The (basic) cooking methods of food include (dry heat) frying, roasting, smoking (smoking), (wet heat) boiling, simmering and perhaps steaming. Changes in human eating habits appear to affect body size, digestion and health conditions.

The economy behind the forest: Understanding the effects of hunting and wildlife trade on the lives of tambrauw people

Backgorund: The objective of this study is to assess the usage and economic significance of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) derived from animal hunting and trading in Warmandi Village and Weyaf Village, located in the Tambrauw Regency of Southwest Papua. Method: The research employed a descriptive methodology with a quantitative orientation. The collection of primary data involved the use of observation, interviews, and questionnaires with 13 key respondents who are employed as hunters in the two communities. Findings: The findings revealed that the primary commodities consist of four distinct wildlife species, specifically deer, wild boar, Mambruk birds, and tree kangaroos. The annual economic value of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) derived from wildlife amounted to Rp175,680,000. Wild boar made the highest contribution, accounting for 61% of the total value, followed by deer at 31%, Mambruk birds at 7%, and tree kangaroos at 1%. Non-timber forest product (NTFP) use is conducted through diverse methods, which encompass the trade of unprocessed, processed, and conserved meat. Game products are sold not only in Tambrauw Regency but also in the markets of Manokwari and Sorong Regencies. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the significance of sustainable management and government oversight in harnessing the economic potential of wildlife non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for the well-being of local populations. Novelty/Originality of this article: By revealing the specific economic value of different wildlife species, this study provides new insights into the importance of sustainable NTFP management in complex socio-ecological contexts.

Analysis of wildlife threat findings based on the SMART patrol application at Pemerihan Resort, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park

Monitoring, managing, and maintaining conservation areas are challenges faced by various parties. The Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) is an application used to measure, collect, evaluate, and improve the effectiveness of location-based monitoring and conservation activities and has been implemented at the Pemerihan Resort, Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (TNBBS). Based on the SMART application, the research aims to analyze the findings of threats and wildlife on active patrol routes. The methods used are documentary studies and field observations. The data obtained from the documentary study is in the form of data from forest patrols for two years (2020-2022), then processed, classified, and analyzed into data on threat findings and wild animal encounter data directly or through signs of presence, which is then verified through field observations. The research results show that the data found from the SMART application during four patrol periods from 2020-2022 consisted of 143 threat findings and 841 wild animal encounters. The highest threat finding was animal hunting, with 56 findings (39%), and the lowest was logging, with three findings (2%). Twenty-three wild animal encounters were found directly or through signs of presence such as tracks, feces, scratches, and food remain. The highest wildlife encounter was the sambar deer (Rusa unicolor). The high threat findings indicate much human activity in the Pemerihan Resort Area, TNBBS, which can disturb wildlife and its habitats.

A two-layer neural circuit controls fast forward locomotion in Drosophila

Fast forward locomotion is critical for animal hunting and escaping behaviors. However, how the underlying neural circuit is wired at synaptic resolution to decide locomotion direction and speed remains poorly understood. Here, we identified in the ventral nerve cord (VNC) a set of ascending cholinergic neurons (AcNs) to be command neurons capable of initiating fast forward peristaltic locomotion in Drosophila larvae. Targeted manipulations revealed that AcNs are necessary and sufficient for fast forward locomotion. AcNs can activate their postsynaptic partners, A01j and A02j; both are interneurons with locomotory rhythmicity. Activated A01j neurons form a posterior-anteriorly descendent gradient in output activity along the VNC to launch forward locomotion from the tail. Activated A02j neurons exhibit quicker intersegmental transmission in activity that enables fast propagation of motor waves. Our work revealed a global neural mechanism that coordinately controls the launch direction and propagation speed of Drosophila locomotion, furthering the understanding of the strategy for locomotion control.

Use or abuse of trophy hunting for conservation genomics?

AbstractNovel genomic tools can yield information important for the conservation of threatened species. Remains of hunted individuals may provide important genomic information; however, the ethics of using remains of hunted animals for conservation research, especially remains of trophy‐hunted animals, is controversial. While there are ongoing political discussions considering blanket bans on the import and use of trophy‐hunted specimens, the consequences of such bans for conservation science have not been broadly discussed. Should conservation science accept samples acquired through legal trophy hunting? We investigate the ethical and practical considerations surrounding the use of biological samples acquired through legal trophy hunting. We propose that trophy‐hunted specimens should not be banned from conservation genomic research. Specimens from hunting could contribute to science and conservation genomic monitoring of wildlife and provide information for biodiversity management.

A shortfin mako shark circling a finless porpoise with damaged caudal fin.

Research on predator-prey interactions between sharks and cetaceans remain limited. Here, we report on a video of a shortfin mako shark circling a finless porpoise with a damaged caudal fin in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. The finless porpoise was neither emaciated nor inactive, but unable to swim effectively due to the complete lack of a caudal fin. Some circumstantial evidence, including a bite mark on the porpoise's head, strongly suggests that the mako shark attacked it. Furthermore, the possible time difference between the two injuries the porpoise sustained may reflect the shark's hunting tactics. While mako sharks primarily feed on small fish and cephalopods, this observation suggests they also may prey on live cetaceans more often than previously thought.

Consumption Ethics for Wild Animals: An Islamic Practice

Religion, particularly Islam, plays an important role in lifestyle as well as in shaping cultural beliefs, including the teachings on consumption ethics. This ethics is based on the Sharīʿah—which is derived from the Qurʾān and the Sunnah by Muslim jurists—and is aimed at avoiding plagues and ensuring health security. Accordingly, this article discusses some lessons on Islamic ethics regarding the consumption and hunting of wild animals for food. A scholar of Islamic jurisprudence, Shaykh Muḥammad Arshad al-Banjārī (1710–1812), authored a work on fiqh entitled Sabīl al-Muhtadīn li al-Tafaqquh fī Amr al-Dīn (The Way of the Rightly Guided People in Mastering the Commandment of Religion) which has successfully managed to enjoin people to protect many species of wildlife in the Malay World, particularly, and in the larger region of South East Asia generally. A list of around 627 species from four major animal orders in Indonesia are listed as the following: primates, carnivores, reptiles, and amphibians—all of which are prohibited from being consumed and hunted by Muslims. They include important varieties of species the populations of which are decreasing, for example: numerous species of monkeys, bats, pangolins, tigers, and many more which are mentioned in al-Banjārī’s work. The work, thus, has helped conserve the said species of wild animals that are still present predominantly in the areas where the Muslim populations reside. If this consumption ethics can be shared with the rest of the world, it could contribute to the conservation of nature.

SALMONELLA IN WILD BOARS (SUS SCROFA): INFLUENCE OF HUNTING AND DRESSING PROCEDURES ON MEAT SAFETY

Salmonella spp. is considered as a high-priority foodborne hazard for control in wild boar meat. This comprehensive study about Salmonella spp. in population of wild boars in Serbia was conducted with an aim to assess the influence of hunting and dressing procedures on the spread of Salmonella on wild boar carcasses and to examine the molecular similarities of strains isolated from wild boars. Samples from wild boars from twelve hunting estates in South-West Vojvodina, Serbia, were taken from 425 hunted animals, which was 25.3% of the total wild boar population in all hunting estates. Three samples were taken from each animal’s skin swabs, feces, and carcass meat swabs. A total of 1,275 samples were examined using standard ISO protocols. Subtyping of the isolates was performed and compared using Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Salmonella prevalence was 4.2%, and Salmonella Enteritidis was the dominant serotype (74.5%). Carcass meat contamination originated from the feces of the same animal. Two or more entrance wounds, damage of the abdominal cavity caused by non-expert shooting were factors found to increase Salmonella contamination on the skin and/or on carcass meat. Rain during the hunting and practice of diaphragm and peritoneum removal and the evisceration being performed on the ground/floor or in hanging position did not lead to increase in Salmonella contamination on the meat. Although the determined prevalence was not high in wild boars compared to farm pigs, it is possible that Salmonella entered the food chain through contaminated meat. Therefore, the importance of good hunting and hygiene practice in handling and dressing wild boar carcasses should not be underestimated.

Some Observations on Trophy Hunting and the Quest for Big Game Animals in American Society

Abstract In the fall season each year, recreationists travel to rural regions across the United States to engage in hunting activities. While there are many reasons for hunting including the acquisition of food, social camaraderie, and enjoyment of nature, the possibility of obtaining a trophy specimen represents a powerful inducement for hunters to participate in a long-standing tradition. This essay analyzes the quest for trophy big game in contemporary American society from a sociological perspective and suggests that several factors have converged in recent decades that promote and encourage trophy hunting of nonhuman animals in the United States, including mass and social media, the hunting industry, and the commercialization of wildlife. The pursuit of trophy big game is an obsession for some hunters and contributes to the perpetuation of the hunting industry. Implications and risks of trophy hunting for the viability of sport hunting as a traditional recreational pursuit are discussed.