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Initially, hunting was the primary means for getting food for the survival of ancient people. As time passed, people started to breed livestock and develop agriculture, gradually reducing their reliance on unpredictability of hunting. People, however, continued to hunt and, even though their survival did not depend on hunting. During the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) period, attitudes toward the use of natural resources fluctuated significantly, and after the establishment of new reserves for wildlife protection, the government soon weakened protections it had introduced. In the current, the organizations in dependent countries of the USSR that are chartered to protect areas with wildlife diversity are very weak and have no sufficient material resources to provide any real control of poaching, especially when hunting weapons and ammunition are easily available. Trophy hunting companies exploit wildlife resources but do not make protecting wildlife from poaching as a priority in their work; they just use whatever resources are available as if they are unlimited. To help solve this problem, we suggest to organize the local people to join the wildlife protection societies and give them official rights to benefit from the development of hunting tourism in the future. There are numerous examples of successful and very profitable hunting businesses in different countries in the world. In Central Asia, all the prerequisites exist for organizing highly effective trophy hunting tourism, maintaining the richness of biodiversity, and at the same time providing a sustainable and significant income for local communities as the country as a whole. The sustainable use of wildlife resources is a very tangible challenge in the countries of Central Asia, and the most important consideration is to establish and enforce hunting laws equally, irrespective of a person’s social status or financial assets, otherwise no laws will work.

The paper summarises the results of floristic studies of the largest springs in the border zone between the Western Roztocze Highlands and Lublin Upland with particular emphasis on the proper crenophytes. In the vegetation season 2015, the investigations were conducted in 25 separate niches of 18 springs. For each object, habitat characteristics of the spring niche (including ecosystem stressors) and spring flora features were analysed. The assessment of the naturalness of the spring was based on the values of the coefficients of flora crenophytisation and neophytisation. The flora of the analysed objects comprised 170 species, with 146 vascular plants and 24 bryophytes, which included 3 archeophytes (”old-comers”) and 7 kenophytes (“new-comers”). The values of crenophytisation coefficients, both in terms of species richness and species coverage, were higher than the values of neophytisation coefficients. Generally, the flora of the spring niches is influenced by habitat factors such as light and trophy, which are modified by disturbances. Flooding increases the number and abundance of proper crenophytes and enhances habitat trophy. Anthropogenic stressors associated with the character of the niche surroundings and the degree of transformation thereof improve the light conditions, thereby enhancing the species richness of proper crenophytes.

In 2015 Cecil the lion's death sparked international furore over the practice of lion trophy hunting. Celebrities and everyday citizens, traditional news and social media alike were aflame around the globe, most notably after American celebrity Jimmy Kimmel expressed disgust in Cecil's death during a monologue on his late-night talk show. This paper explores the Cecil Moment as a case study of the cultural politics of the environment at the intersection of celebrity environmentalism and ‘Nature 2.0’ applications like Facebook and Twitter. The research asks: what can the Cecil Moment can tell us about how celebrity and Nature 2.0 environmentalisms work and to what kind of conservation politics do they lead? Drawing on the celebrity environmentalism and Nature 2.0 literatures, I develop an analytic framework for analyzing the Cecil Moment which considers and evaluates the network of actors enrolled, the representations foregrounded and backgrounded, as well as the outcomes. Empirical insights are drawn from document and media review, and key informant interviews. I argue that the Cecil Moment operated through a more-than-human network which served to channel agency unleashed by Cecil’s death to the already-empowered lion conservation actors, as well as mutable meanings that shifted Cecil Moment focus away from trophy hunting and toward lion conservation in general. Ultimately, the Cecil Moment operated to dismiss the anti-trophy hunting politics that sparked and fuelled it in the first place; yet, the momentum of the Cecil Moment was grasped and re-directed toward other lion conservation priorities. Critically, this re-direction was not neutral; rather, it shifted the politics of the Cecil Moment in a way that reproduced longstanding patterns of conservation injustice wherein blame for biodiversity loss is directed away from powerful forces onto the racialized, rural poor from the Global South.

There is a general scarcity of information on local community perspectives regarding trophy hunting in Zimbabwe. This information chasm is undesirable to the country, scientists and trophy hunting market participants given that major Western customer markets require evidence of benefits by local communities in order to support trophy hunting. This study contributes to closing the knowledge gap by discussing the community perspectives of the dominant trophy hunting market for ecosystem services (the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) programme) in Zimbabwe. In bringing this viewpoint to light, the study uses perspectives of communities in Hwange district, Matabeleland north with a particular focus on attributes and attitudes towards CAMPFIRE. A qualitative research design obtained in depth information on current CAMPFIRE issues. Data was collected through focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Results show that the contribution of CAMPFIRE to local economic development has been hampered by market challenges and the exclusion of the local communities who are the producer constituency.

This study explores the long-term drivers of changes in lake mixing regime and the causes of lacustrine anoxia in the 2000 year-long, varved sediment record from Lake Żabinskie in northeastern Poland. Annually resolved geochemical data (μXRF and CNS) and pollen data were used to find links between changes in catchment land use and lake mixing regime. Furthermore, we tested the applicability of the Fe/Mn ratio for the reconstruction of past water ventilation. Multivariate statistical analyses show that Fe and Mn were mostly independent of terrestrial inputs and lake trophy, meaning that the Fe/Mn ratio mainly responded to changes in redox potential in hypolimnetic waters. Characteristic changes of the Fe/Mn ratio corresponded to transformations of woodland cover in the catchment as registered by changes of the arboreal/non-arboreal pollen ratio. Six main phases of different lake mixing intensity were distinguished. The local landscape was more open during phases of intensified human impact and catchment deforestation, leading to the intensification of lake mixing. At times of negligible human impact, the catchment was mostly wooded, and thus the lake was well sheltered from intense wind-driven mixing. This led to periods of prolonged anoxia. The Fe/Mn record accurately traced past changes in lake mixing intensity and related shifts in water column oxygenation. During the last two millennia, the mixing regime of Lake Żabinskie mostly depended on human activity in the catchment and landscape openness, while long periods of anoxia were not exclusive to only the most recent sediments.

Lychnothamnus barbatus, one of the rarest and endangered charophytes world-wide, is a bioindicator of low water trophy. This study was carried out in a moderately fertile water body hosting a large population of L. barbatus (Lake Kuźnickie, Poland). In this lake, L. barbatus co-occurs in submerged vegetation with higher trophy indicators, aquatic angiosperms Ceratophyllum demersum and Myriophyllum spicatum and the common charophyte Nitellopsis obtusa. The study aim was to investigate the depth preferences of the above species and their proportions at sites they co-occur in the studied lake. Depth of occurrence and quantitative share of macrophytes were studied in a 1-m depth gradient along 12 transects in July 2016 and 2017. Physico-chemical water parameters evidenced meso-eutrophic status of the lake. Out of 23 taxa of aquatic macrophytes identified in Lake Kuźnickie high frequencies and abundances were recorded only for L. barbatus, N. obtusa, C. demersum and M. spicatum, thus being predominants in the lake’s vegetation. L. barbatus co-occurred with higher trophy indicators not only in the same lake but also at the same sites. Ceratophyllum demersum, M. spicatum and N. obtusa were negatively correlated with depth. Lychnothamnus barbatus preferred deeper sites than other predominants, as evidenced by ANOVA. Whilst M. spicatum showed no statistically significant relationship with L. barbatus, C. demersum and N. obtusa were negatively correlated with this endangered charophyte. We postulate that due to shade tolerance and light use efficiency L. barbatus is a better competitor at deeper sites compared to angiosperms and N. obtusa.

Trophy hunting in Africa is currently under pressure as some countries explore various policies that aim to put a halt to an activity that many people in the Western developed world view as unpalatable or unethical. However, in the debate over trophy hunting policy the voices of local communities, who in many instances allow wildlife to persist on the lands they control because of the tangible benefits they derive from it, have been largely unheard. Here, we report on an opportunistic survey of 160 rural residents of Namibia from 32 communal conservancies that generate varying levels of livelihood benefits from wildlife uses, including trophy hunting. About three quarters of these community members were employed in some manner by the conservancy. We used a mixed methods approach to assess community members' perceptions on trophy hunting, the benefits it generates, whether it was “good” or “bad”, and how they would respond if trophy hunting were halted. 91% stated they were not in favour of a ban on trophy hunting, and only 11% of respondents would support wildlife on communal lands if a ban were in fact enacted. Most respondents (90%) were happy with trophy hunting occurring on communal lands due to the benefits it provides. These responses were consistent across respondent demographic categories, although those who stand to lose the most (i.e., those employed by or managing a conservancy), viewed trophy hunting in an even more favourable light. Our results suggest that in Namibia, a trophy hunting ban would be viewed very poorly by conservancy residents, and would seriously weaken their support for wildlife conservation. The imposition of trophy hunting policies by countries far from where rural land managers are conserving wildlife would not only restrict communities' livelihood options, but may have perverse, negative impacts on wildlife conservation.

It is broadly acknowledged that natural resources conservation strategies affect the livelihoods of local communities. Moreover, evidence suggests that these livelihood impacts, in turn, can influence conservation achievements. Yet, what constitutes a conservation strategy that communities perceive as acceptable and thus they would be willing to commit to over time remains poorly understood. This study explores the perceptions of communities regarding the effects of two different conservation strategies in the Ruvuma landscape: governmental land concessions and licenses to private tourist operators in North Mozambique, versus community-managed protected areas supported by NGOs in South Tanzania. The study engages communities in a series of semi-structured discussions about natural resource use, impact of the conservation strategies on their livelihoods, pressures on natural resources, and ways to address such pressures and reach an acceptable conservation strategy, from a community perspective. Our findings suggest that communities perceive as non-affordable current opportunity and damage costs in subsistence agriculture. A strategy integrating improved agricultural production, common use of the forest managed by communities, and joint ventures between communities and private companies for getting more benefits from trophy hunting are identified as acceptable.

African rhino populations are under severe threat from poachers, who kill rhinos to obtain horn for illegal trade. Over the 9-year period between 2008 and 2016, an estimated 7124 rhinos were poached in Africa, with the main focus of this killing occurring in South Africa, where 1054 rhinos were killed during 2016 alone. The poaching continues at an unsustainable rate, despite the international trade ban on horn and numerous law enforcement interventions from range state countries. One strategy proposed to reduce the poaching is the implementation of a legal international trade in rhino horn through the sustainable collection and sale of horn. This idea is controversial and has divided governments and conservationists worldwide, with one of the main concerns being that there may not be enough horn to satisfy the markets. Although the idea of trade is not new, there are no published estimates of how much horn could be provided on a sustainable basis. Based on recent rhino population estimates and feedback from private rhino owners, we estimate the annual potential supply of horn that could be obtained within South Africa from four sources: natural mortalities, dehorning, trophy hunting and stockpiled horn. Using different scenarios of horn production we show that the mass of horn that could be obtained varies from 5319 to 13,356 kg per year.

For commercially important permits and pompanos, scant official information exists on fishery assessments, the reproductive seasonality and location of these species, which impede knowing the intensity of fishing pressure imposed at their spawning grounds. Fishers have acquired a substantial body of knowledge on these species as a result of their exploitation, which typically occurs at spawning aggregation sites. Because efficient fishery management relies on knowing the locations and time of spawning of exploited species, deficiencies of such information may impair the establishment of sustainable exploitation strategies. Here, we analyzed the data of permits (Trachinotus falcatus) and great pompanos (Trachinotus goodei) along the Brazilian coast, from small-scale (SSF) and recreational (RF) fishers that voluntarily shared their data (i.e., logbooks, images, movies), enabling us to track these aggregations and the resulting fishing pressure. Furthermore, to directly assess the impact that local fishing may have on these aggregations, we monitored the great pompano in Todos os Santos Bay (TSB). In TSB, high catches occurred at four sites known by fishers to harbor fish aggregations. We showed that abundant landings of these species are associated with SSF and RF, typically targeting ‘trophy’ individuals. Furthermore, expanding the web-based and logbook data through modeled catch estimates, we found high probability of catching these species during spawning aggregations. Fishers exert pressures on these populations given their awareness of the location and timing of these species’ aggregations. Collaborating with fishers and obtained their engagement toward guiding conservation-oriented fishery management at spawning grounds remains a highly sought-after goal.

This study assessed the influence of a 2014 United States of America (USA) imposed ban on the importation of elephant (Loxodonta africana) hunted trophies from Zimbabwe on the hunting patterns (i.e., elephant quota allocation, utilisation and hunter’s or client country of origin dynamics) in Matetsi Hunting Complex. The study was divided into two period, i.e., pre- ban (2008–2013) and post-ban (2014–2017). Although the study results showed a non-significant quota allocation variation difference between the pre-ban and post-ban periods, there was however, a significant decline in quota utilisation in post-ban period compared to the pre-ban period. Accordingly, a significant decline in US hunters or clients was recorded in the post-ban period. It is concluded that trophy hunting and trade bans by some global north countries without an alternative global conservation framework that provides conservation incentives will likely reverse the gains in wildlife conservation and rural development in some global south countries where sustainable utilisation is an integral part of the wildlife conservation practice.

Objectives This study aims to determine whether adults from the site of Uraca in the Lower Majes Valley, Arequipa, Peru altered their diets in late-life—if so, were those short-term changes related to accessing distinct foods during periods of short-term mobility, seasonal subsistence strategies without accompanying mobility, or some other type of short-term change. We address these questions by comparing stable isotope variability (δ13C/δ15N) of Uraca hair keratin and bone collagen to published archaeological hair data from Peru. We propose and apply a landscape bioarchaeology approach—here, the spatially-informed meta-analysis of published δ13C/δ15N data from archaeological hair keratin of known provenience—to determine thresholds for different types of short-term dietary change. Materials and methods We conducted stable isotope analysis (δ13C/δ15N) of archaeological hair keratin (n = 40 samples) and bone collagen (n = 5 samples) from Uraca, including adult male trophy heads and adult male and female villagers. We then compiled published archaeological hair keratin data from the Andes and coded the 11 sites according to biogeographical zones. We compared late-life averages for the entire dataset (n = 131 segments) and ranges for individuals with more than six months of data (n = 101 segments) between sites and between subgroups based on elevational zones, sex, and trophy subgroupings. We compiled archaeological and modern baseline food web data for the region (n = 401 samples) and compared hair data adjusted to diet. Results Meta-analysis shows greater late-life median δ13Ckeratin (VPDB) and δ15Nkeratin (AIR) for yunga vs. coastal burials, greater δ13Ckeratin (VPDB) ranges for coastal burials, greater δ15Nkeratin (AIR) ranges for females, greater median δ15Nkeratin (AIR) for trophy individuals, and greater δ13Ckeratin (VPDB) ranges for trophy individuals. Given these distinct late-life diets and ranges for coastal and yunga burials relative to southern Peruvian food web data, two females and three trophy individuals from Uraca likely changed diets during a short-term move, while the remainder show no evidence for dietary change. Discussion These analyses demonstrate distinct dietary practices between coastal and yunga groups, between males and females, and between trophy head victims and non-trophy villagers. Understanding the nature of late-life dietary change through a comparative synthesis of archaeological hair provides key insights into individual life trajectories, communal practices, mobility, and foodways relative to altitudinally-variable landscapes of the Peruvian Andes.

The benefits for biodiversity and human wellbeing are debated for many countries. Some communities in rural mountain areas of the world consider trophy hunting as an integrated conservation and development strategy to protect biodiversity and sustain livelihood. This review will provide the evidence that has been gathered to discuss the benefits of CHTP in the HKPL landscape focusing on Pakistan and Tajikistan”. Trophy hunting, which is intensely debated these days, is perhaps confused with the underlying philosophy of community-based trophy hunting programs. This paper seeks to inform these discussions with a fresh perspective on CTHP based on first-hand experience and learning from the high mountain landscapes and communities of Asia - Pakistan and Tajikistan. The article essentially reviews the effectiveness of CTHP model for conserving rare and threatened wildlife populations, protected and conserved areas, and community welfare and economic uplift. Results reveal that CTHP has been instrumental in halting illegal hunting and poaching wildlife and eventually increasing their populations in many important yet isolated habitats while improving community livelihood and local economy. The CTHP forms a vital part of the rural socio-ecological resilience for remote and isolated mountain communities. It has offered economic incentives for an integrated conservation and development paradigm to combat wildlife poaching and illegal trade and diversify livelihoods harness vital biodiversity conservation values. The paper also elaborates on the societal impact of financial flows and their use for improved lives and enterprises. There are however, some significant problems related to trophy hunting programmes, including the lack of accurate information to understand the effect of trophy hunting on herd structure and size, weak policy implementation, lack of transparency and corruption. Regular monitoring of wildlife, understanding population dynamics, appropriate allocation of hunting quotas, hunting revenue, proper evaluation, and careful documentation of CTHP processes and their impacts are urgently required to make CTHP more effective and sustainable.

Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus) are rare, mostly nocturnal forest antelopes in tropical Africa that are prized by trophy hunters for their large size, curved horns, and colorful pelage. Estimating bongo population size is difficult because of their low densities and forested habitat, and therefore management decisions have not previously been based on realistic models of population dynamics. In this study, we estimate bongo density and population size in a safari hunting concession in northern Republic of Congo using spatially explicit capture-recapture (SECR) models based on camera trap data. The SECR bongo population estimates were used to model population dynamics under different scenarios of regulated and unregulated harvest and catastrophic natural events. Bongo density in the safari hunting concession was 8.77 bongo 100 km−2 (4.78–15.58). Vortex modelling showed that trophy hunting quotas granted previously would, if achieved, have led to rapid local extinction of bongo. As a result of this study, quotas were reduced to three bongo per year, which is only sustainable if current optimal conditions are maintained.

Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Pakistan) has a rich diversity of wild caprinae and is one of key area for caprinae community-based conservation programs. In this program, selective hunting of small proportion of adult males with large horns is done on annual basis to generate money for the conservation, habitat improvement and livelihood of local communities. The current study aimed at collecting reliable data about population status of Astor Markhor (Capra falconeri falconeri). For this purpose, fixed-point direct count method was used for estimation of Astor Markhor population in 16 catchments including 15 Community-Controlled Hunting Areas (CCHAs). A total of 1087 animals were counted, comprising of 266 (24%) males (including sixty-two (6%) trophy-sized males), 388 (36%) females, 227 (21%) yearling and 206 (19%) kids. Population density of Astor Markhor was estimated 0.13 individuals/km2, with male to female ratio 0.69:1, yearling to female 0.54:1 and kids to female 0.51:1. CCHA/catchment wise assessments showed that Kargah area has highest population (211 animals). It is suggested that consequences of trophy hunting should be strictly contingent upon population data obtained through robust methods, duly verified by a panel of conservation experts and may be extended to other areas also for fruitful results.

Human-wildlife conflict between carnivores and livestock and game owners is an issue of high conservation concern and has led to the global decline of many large carnivore species. Research has shown that carnivores are often blamed for higher levels of predation of livestock and game than actually occurs and this often leads to retaliatory killing. The aim of this study was to obtain information via scat analysis on the range of prey species taken by leopards in the Soutpansberg Mountains, South Africa, and combine these data with self-reported accounts of livestock predation from local landowners to examine differences between real and perceived leopard predation. Results showed that despite landowners reporting frequent events of leopard predation of livestock and introduced farmed game across the Soutpansberg farming community, no evidence of these species were found in leopard diets. The most frequently eaten species by relative biomass were bushbuck, hyrax and vervet monkeys; in contrast, the farmers reported cattle and impala as often being taken by leopards. Despite sharing the landscape with domestic cattle and introduced game, leopards in the Soutpansberg do not frequently utilise these species as prey and instead focus their diets on wild species. Human-carnivore conflict can be reduced by overcoming the mismatch between actual and perceived levels of predation via landowner education, effective anti-predation measures, an improved government response to reports of livestock predation and potentially giving economic value to problem animals via trophy hunting.

This pilot study sought to explore the ways in which northern Illinois land managers and decision makers were influenced personally and professionally by emotional interactions with white-tailed deer. Utilizing in-depth interviews, the study focused on three research questions: (1) What emotional responses are elicited by interaction with deer? (2) How do emotional responses to deer change over time? (3) How do relationships with deer affect support for deer management policy? Qualitative data suggested that: participants viewed deer as a symbolically significant species; contextual factors influenced emotions toward deer; “outsiders” and trophy hunters were perceived negatively; and personal feelings and management priorities required balance. The theoretical frame was informed by Experiential Learning Theory ( Kolb, 1984 ) and the Theory of Emotional Memory ( LeDoux, 2007 ). Implications for theory, research, and management are discussed. Management implications 1. This article demonstrated that to better understand the role of emotions in whitetail deer-related decision making, managers should be aware that: previous emotional experiences likely influence but do not dictate subsequent emotional responses. 2. Even in areas typically thought to be “urban,” hunters perceived to be “outsiders” can present unique managerial challenges. 3. More effective public educational practices should likely be equal parts informational and relational.

Using surveys of experts associated with 186 sites across 24 countries, we assessed the effectiveness of African protected areas (PAs) at conserving lions and their prey, identified factors that influence conservation effectiveness, and identified patterns in the severity of various threats. Less than one third of sampled PAs conserve lions at ≥ 50% of their estimated carrying capacity (K), and less than half conserve lion prey species at ≥ 50% of K. Given adequate management, PAs could theoretically support up to 4 × the total extant population of wild African lions (~ 83,000), providing a measurable benchmark for future conservation efforts. The performance of PAs shows marked geographic variation, and in several countries there is a need for a significant elevation in conservation effort. Bushmeat poaching was identified as the most serious threat to both lions and to wildlife in general. The severity of threats to wildlife in PAs and the performance of prey populations were best predicted by geographic-socioeconomic variables related to the size of PAs, whether people were settled within PAs, human/livestock densities in neighbouring areas and national economic indicators. However, conservation outcomes for lions were best explained by management variables. PAs tended to be more effective for conserving lions and/or their prey where management budgets were higher, where photographic tourism was the primary land use, and, for prey, where fencing was present. Lions and prey fared less well relative to their estimated potential carrying capacities in poorer countries, where people were settled within PAs and where PAs were used for neither photographic tourism nor trophy hunting.

Gray wolves (Canis lupus) are managed for competing uses in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). Tourism benefits Yellowstone National Park (YNP) visitors while trophy hunting benefits hunters outside of the park. We investigate the policy scope of gray wolf management across jurisdictional boundaries by incorporating three foundations of the behavioral ecology of wolves: refuge-seeking behavior, optimal foraging group size and territoriality. Tradeoffs between and within consumptive and non-consumptive human benefits and wolf population fitness and life history indicators are quantified as a set of elasticities, providing clear implications to resource managers. Our approach highlights that hunting intensity affects the provision of consumptive and non-consumptive human benefits across jurisdictional boundaries and ought to be managed accordingly. We also show that population levels are an incomplete indicator of species fitness, which may depend on how hunting policies impact underlying group ecology. Our findings suggest traditional optimization approaches to wildlife management may lead to suboptimal policy recommendations when the boundaries on the natural system are oversimplified. Highlighting the human element of wildlife management, we show that understanding tourist and hunter responses to wildlife population abundances is critical to balancing provision of consumptive and non-consumptive human uses.

Retaliatory killing of large carnivores in response to their attacks on cattle is recognised as one of the most important factors causing worldwide declines of large carnivores. Conversely, hunting is believed to have been largely eliminated due to national and international protection measures. We studied the prevalence of human-jaguar conflict and the relative importance of retaliatory killing and hunting for jaguar populations in Venezuela by means of field interviews with hunters and ranchers. To predict the spatial distribution of retaliatory killing or hunting we fit a linear regression model. We registered 387 jaguar attacks on livestock and 22 attacks on humans. Subsistence/commercial hunting appeared the most common cause of human-caused jaguar mortality (52%) and retaliatory killing was less common (38%). Jaguars were also killed because of public fear, attacks on pets, by trophy hunters, and in car accidents. Public motivations to kill jaguars did not change through time, suggesting that the protection system introduced in 1996 has not been effective. Methods and tools used in retaliatory killing were different, more sophisticated, and probably more efficient than those used in hunting. However, products collected from harvested jaguars did not differ between motivation groups and included skins, canines, skulls, meat, fat, and cubs. Our model indicated that subsistence/commercial hunting is prevalent over most of the areas still inhabited by jaguars. On the contrary, retaliatory killing was mostly predicted for the areas where jaguars have already gone extinct, suggesting that it is an important driving factor of jaguar extirpations.

This document is based on a review of a debate which took place at Westminster Hall in the UK Houses of Parliament on the 2nd October 2019. The advocacy by Animal Rights parliamentary members was extreme: they used pseudoscientific premises that were largely false and sought to address the substance of the debate entirely on emotional grounds. In this document I challenge some of the misinformation that was prevalent, quoting Callen et al. (2020) on Compassionate Conservation. Much of the debate was taken up with trophy hunting of lions and ignored the fact that lion trophy imports by the UK are a fraction of the global imports. A common theme in the debate was that the UK needed to “move with the times” – which is another way of saying the Animal Rights lobby are shaping the political landscape. The social, ecological and economic realities of the rural population and the resource base in Africa are ignored. Zac Goldsmith (Minister for DIFD (Department for International Development) and DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs)) stated that If the scientific evidence can show that trophy hunting contributes to conservation, we will be having a different debate. I present a counter-narrative to show that there are numerous case-studies from southern Africa that demonstrate the contribution which sustainable trophy hunting makes to human livelihoods and, hence, to conservation ... and therefore ‘a different debate’ is warranted.

Mass occurrence of green algae of the genus Ulva in the form of algal blooms (known as “green tides”) is often associated with high concentrations of biogens in the water. Therefore, Ulva species are most often used in monitoring seawater trophy and far less frequently freshwater trophy. In Europe, the biomonitoring of river ecosystems is based on aquatic plants. According to the River Macrophyte Index (RMI), river populations of Ulva macroalgae (only tubular Enteromorpha-like Ulva) are considered good indicators for eutrophic waters. This paper analyses the legitimacy of using U. pilifera as a trophy indicator in the case of ponds. It has been noted that freshwater populations of U. pilifera are much more common in lakes, dammed reservoirs, or ponds than in rivers. In this study, analysed populations of U. pilifera originated from 14 ponds located in central Poland. Data analysis relied on the Carlson Trophic State Index (CTSI), which was compared with other known trophic indices. According to CTSI values, U. pilifera was most common in eutrophic ponds, where the mean concentrations of ammonium nitrogen, nitrates, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a reached 581, 241, 212, and 20 µg·L−1, respectively. The results indicate that U. pilifera can be considered a bioindicator for eutrophic waters (50–70 of CTSI). It would therefore be appropriate to introduce U. pilifera as part of biomonitoring conducted in small bodies of water. Major arguments in favour of practical application of U. pilifera are: (i) it is a large macroalga, the thalli of which can reach a length of > 1.0 m, (ii) it is an easy-to-identify species; even by non-experts (it is characterized by a distinctive tubular shape of the thallus), and (iii) it occurs in bulk in conditions of eutrophy, creating an easily observable bloom.

Trophy hunting plays a significant role in wildlife conservation in some contexts in various parts of the world. Yet excessive hunting is contributing to species declines, especially for large carnivores. Simulation models suggest that sustainable hunting of African lions may be achieved by restricting offtakes to males old enough to have reared a cohort of offspring. We tested and expanded criteria for an age-based approach for sustainably regulating lion hunting. Using photos of 228 known-age males from ten sites across Africa, we measured change in ten phenotypic traits with age and found four age classes with distinct characteristics: 1-2.9 years, 3-4.9 years, 5-6.9 years, and ≥7 years. We tested the aging accuracy of professional hunters and inexperienced observers before and after training on aging. Before training, hunters accurately aged more lion photos (63%) than inexperienced observers (48%); after training, both groups improved (67-69%). Hunters overestimated 22% of lions

Adfluvial brook trout in Lake Superior, commonly referred to as coasters, were once widely distributed among tributaries and supported trophy fisheries. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recently enhanced efforts to rehabilitate brook trout in Minnesota waters by imposing restrictive harvest regulations intended to produce more large individuals adopting a coaster life-history. The agency evaluated effects of the regulation changes by conducting electrofishing stream surveys concurrently with changes and three additional times over the next 16 years. Catch per unit effort of brook trout across all streams was similar among sampling periods. Generalized linear mixed models indicated a greater proportional size structure (number ≥ 330 mm/number ≥ 200 mm) and proportion of older fish (≥ age 3) after the regulation change. Genetic analyses indicated that individuals from coaster hatchery strains, which were stocked in nearby jurisdictions, made up only 5.6% of all individuals in Minnesota streams and 12% of individuals ≥ 330 mm, although the two largest fish were hatchery strain. Our results indicated that conservative regulations can contribute to rehabilitation of coaster populations and that stocked coasters could not account for the improved size and age structure.

We report on the illegal trade in live pangolins, their meat, and their scales in the Special Development Zone of Mong La, Shan State, Myanmar, on the border with China, and present an analysis of the role of Myanmar in the trade of pangolins into China. Mong La caters exclusively for the Chinese market and is best described as a Chinese enclave in Myanmar. We surveyed the morning market, wildlife trophy shops and wild meat restaurants during four visits in 2006, 2009, 2013–2014, and 2015. We observed 42 bags of scales, 32 whole skins, 16 foetuses or pangolin parts in wine, and 27 whole pangolins for sale. Our observations suggest Mong La has emerged as a significant hub of the pangolin trade. The origin of the pangolins is unclear but it seems to comprise a mixture of pangolins from Myanmar and neighbouring countries, and potentially African countries. Myanmar, on the basis of its geographic position, size and weak government, has emerged as an important transit country for the smuggling of pangolins to China. Data from 29 seizures from Myanmar and 23 from neighbouring countries (Thailand, India, China) implicating Myanmar as a source of pangolins or as a transit point for pangolins sourced in other countries, in the period 2010–2014, illustrate the magnitude of this trade. Combined these seizures amount to 4339 kg of scales and 518 whole pangolins, with a retail value in Myanmar of US$3.09 million. Trade in pangolins, their parts of their derivatives is illegal in Myanmar and CITES II listing with a zero-quota preclude international trade in them. We urge the Myanmar government to liaise with regional authorities to curb the trade in pangolins and recommend that the Myanmar and Chinese CITES authorities in particular come together urgently as to resolve the illicit trade of pangolins and their parts across their borders.

The common psychological core in grandiose and vulnerable narcissism is a sense of oneself being special and better than others. It has been shown that this need may be satisfied through relationships with attractive and successful partners. We propose that after dissolving romantic relationships, both grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic individuals may want to keep inanimate objects associated with their ex-partners as symbols of their mating success (i.e., trophies). Consistent with this hypothesis, the results of two cross-sectional correlational studies (N = 330 and N = 414) showed that while grandiose and vulnerable narcissism are not related to the nostalgic value of keepsakes from past relationships, they predict the perception of these objects as trophies. The effect holds when controlled for gender and self-esteem. We further discuss the mechanism by which “trophy keepsakes” may bolster positive self-views in both grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic individuals.

Hunting lions while their populations are declining in much of Africa is a highly controversial issue. However, hunting for lions and other charismatic large mammals in Africa has contributed to maintaining large areas of wild land for lions and wildlife conservation. To minimise the impacts of hunting lions in some 150,000 km2 of Game Management Areas (total ∼190,000 km2) in Zambia an age-based quota setting system has been adopted. The approach involves reducing the number of lions taken to one per hunting block and limiting trophy hunting to past prime male lions. The age-based assessment criteria and the results from assessing the trophies taken in 2017 and 2018 are presented. Of the 18 trophies taken in 2017, 11% were judged to be under age, 17% were marginal and the remaining 72% were acceptable trophies of animals aged 6 years or older, with 28% being ≥7 years or older. The results for 2018 showed a higher proportion (42%) of older lions (≥7 years) being taken. Legal instruments to give force to the guidelines on trophies that can legally be hunted are being introduced to ensure the sustainable offtake of past prime male lions with minimal disruption of pride coalitions. These developments will contribute to improved management of lion hunting in Zambia and to meeting the non-detriment finding and conservation enhancement requirements of European and American regulations governing the importation of lion trophies.

Northern regions of Pakistan support a relatively large population of wild ungulates, the preferred prey of sympatric carnivores. The Asiatic ibex (Capra Ibex Sibirica) is one such an ungulate species which also serves as an important trophy animal. The maintenance of trophy hunting programs rely on estimates of harvestable population sizes derived from rigorous methods. The present study successfully used the double observer-based Capture-Mark-Recapture (CMR) method to produce a reliable and accurate estimate of the Asiatic ibex population in the Community Control Hunting Areas (CCHAs) of Socterabad, Gojal watershed and Khunjerab National Park (KNP). Surveys were conducted from February to March 2018 and from March to April 2019. The total ibex population was calculated to be 1075 individuals (95%CI ± 670) with a density of 1.43 ibex/km2 in Gojal watershed, followed by Socterabad with 856 individuals (95%CI ± 680) and a density of 6.24ibex/km2, and lastly KNP with 463 individuals (95%CI ± 93.5) and a density of 0.14ibex/km2. A total of 52 herds were sighted in Gojal watershed with mean size of 19 ibex/herd (SE ± 3.2). In Socterabad, 28 herds were sighted with mean size of 16.07 ibex/herd (SE ± 2.4) and in KNP 28 herds were sighted with average recorded size of 16.5 ibex/herd (SE ± 3.4). In KNP Sex ratios of female to young, female to yearling and female to male were 1:0.7, 1:0.4, and 1:0.5 respectively. The detection probability of observer two was less than observer one. Ibex biomass recorded is insufficient for current recorded snow leopard (Panthera uncia) and wolf (Canis lupus) population in the area. Our study validates the use of Capture Mark Recapture as a viable tool in discerning ungulate populations, and shows that the population of the Asiatic ibex is viable in the study area, making it suitable for trophy hunting programs but need to modify the hunting law.

It seems so obvious: you don't save rare animals by shooting them. Yet, trophy hunters stubbornly argue that this is just the case. They claim that their hunts help raise awareness about species extinction and that the money they pay for the hunts helps conservation efforts and contributes to local economies. Conservationists point out that these arguments are not based on solid proof and that trophy hunting – the killing of big game for taxidermied body parts or photos with the killed animal, typically in Africa – fails to account for the fact that rare animals have a much higher value alive than dead, not to mention the interest by virtually everyone in safeguarding the species for the long run. While this debate continues to rage, the world’s grandest and most threatened animals are disappearing rapidly. In 1900, for example, there were about half a million rhinos in the world. Today, less than 30,000 exist. In the early part of the 20th century, there were as many as 3-5 million African elephants. Now, there are only around 415,000 left with tens of thousands being slaughtered every year. 100,000 elephants were killed by poachers between 2010 and 2012 alone. On average, one elephant is currently killed every 25 minutes. In just one decade, the Central African elephant population has declined by 64%. Other species fare no better. Once the “King of the Animal Kingdom,” the African lion population has declined from about 100,000 in the 1960s to no more than 35,000 today. Since 1970, a whopping 80% of all wild animals have been lost to poaching, habitat loss, human-wildlife interaction, and hunting. These numbers are sobering: we are in the midst of a sixth mass extinction losing species at 1,000 to 10,000 times the natural rate. As many as 30-50% percent of all species may be extinct by 2050. Even so, trophy hunting continues. Many of the targeted animal species are highly endangered or threatened with extinction. For example, despite the low and declining population of African lions, American hunters killed more than 5,600 of these majestic animals and imported parts of them as trophies between 1999 and 2008. Between 2005 and 2014, more than 1.2 million “trophies” of over 1,200 different kinds of animals were imported into the United States. When it is typically illegal to import actual parts of the animals, trophy hunters often resort to taking a picture of themselves with the animals they have just killed (“kill shots”) as a means of commemorating the occasion. This practice contributes to the extinction of already very rare animals and has become objectionable to the majority of people, including even hunters. It must come to an end.

Pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs), diatoms, and geochemistry of lake sediments with partially preserved annual lamination were used to reconstruct post-glacial environmental changes of northern Poland in the Baltic region. The main stages in the lake's evolution indicate the following: (1) eutrophic conditions in the final stage of the Lateglacial, (2) very low trophy and strongly changeable water levels in the early Holocene, (3) slowly rising trophy through the mid- and late Holocene enabling persistence of the oligotrophic state of the lake up to c. AD 1450, (4) strong cultural eutrophication of the lake in the recent period (c. 150 years), and (5) maximum Ca content in the early Holocene followed by a gradual decline to minimum values in recent time. Distinct, concurrent shifts in limnological proxies and tree pollen accumulation rates (PARs) enabled the identification of several potential Holocene cool climatic events of different magnitudes and durations. Strong reduction in Tetraedron minimum and declines in tree PARs illustrate limitation of physiological processes in plants, which could result from shorter growing seasons and lower summer temperatures and insolation. Higher precipitation of Fe and Mn indicates more intensive weathering in the catchment, while peaks in Fe/Mn ratio and concurrent drops in Ca content suggest at least seasonal anoxia, which could result from a longer duration of ice cover and shorter periods of mixing. The data seem to display striking conformity of the main cooling events with the “Bond cycles” (Bond et al., 1997, 2001), but also indicate a more variable pattern that may reflect traces of a more complex cyclicity of climatic shifts.

Two lakes with different trophy, Strzeszynskie Lake and Uzarzewskie Lake (Western Poland), were studied in ex situ experiments with the aid of intact bottom sediment cores in order to analyse the internal loading as well as the spatial and seasonal changes of total phosphorus (TP) release from bottom sediments. It was stated that the TP release from a hypereutrophic Lake Uzarzewskie, despite its earlier restoration using iron treatment, was over 6 times higher than in a mesotrophic one. The observed values in both lakes were higher in the deepest part of the lake than in the littoral zone. TP release in Strzeszynskie Lake was very similar in all four seasons of the year with the maximum value of 2.8 mgP m−2 d−1 in winter. TP release did not exceed 1.3 mgP m−2 d−1 in the littoral zone and in winter its accumulation prevailed over release from bottom sediments. TP release in Uzarzewskie Lake was 44.7 mgP m−2 d−1 in autumn in the profundal zone and 6.8 mgP m−2 d−1 in the littoral zone. A domination of P accumulation in sediments over release was observed at both stations in winter (0.33 mgP m−2 d−1 in the deepest place and 0.62 mgP m−2 d−1 in the littoral). Knowledge of the internal loading of P in lakes allows managers to compare changes in human impact on the ecosystem and to design practical treatments for limiting their trophy and approaches to the management of restoration measures.

Aquatic vegetation is a critical component of nursery habitat for young-of-the-year (YOY) muskellunge. The trophy status of the muskellunge fishery in southeastern Georgian Bay owes its reputation to the widespread distribution of aquatic vegetation in coastal marshes of this region. Unfortunately, wetland habitat has been in decline because of an unprecedented period of sustained low water levels since 1999. In this study, we strategically re-sampled 16 historic sites that supported YOY muskellunge in 1981. The sustained low water levels and increased shoreline modifications experienced by southeastern Georgian Bay may have contributed to the current disappearance of YOY muskellunge at those sites. These physical stressors appeared to have altered the habitat structure of the plant community and led to changes in fish communities, making them no longer suitable for YOY muskellunge. The precise mechanisms limiting survival to the YOY stage are unknown because spawning adults have been observed in the area in the spring of 2012 and 2013. These results corroborated previous sampling programs at the historic sites (2004–2005: n = 8 and 2007: n = 16) that employed other fishing gears and protocols as well as a supplemental YOY sampling in 2013 (n = 26 additional sites). If this muskellunge population is to remain self-sustaining, a complementary management strategy specifically developed for Georgian Bay is required. The strategy should identify and ultimately protect suitable muskellunge breeding habitat by accounting for the unique geomorphology, current physical stressors affecting Georgian Bay, and the biological links between suitable spawning and nursery habitats.

Large carnivores are in rapid global decline, with a broad array of consequences for the ecosystems they inhabit. To efficiently detect and address these declines requires unbiased and precise demographic data. Unfortunately, the characteristics that make large carnivores extinction-prone also pose serious challenges to obtaining these data. Rapid survey methods exist, but provide only relative measures of abundance, cannot detect declines before they become large, and provide little or no information about the causes of decline. African lions (Panthera leo) are declining throughout their range, making accurate monitoring of remaining populations urgent. We provide statistically rigorous estimates of population size, trends, survival rate and age–sex structure from Zambia’s South Luangwa lion population from 2008 to 2012, just prior to cessation of hunting in 2013. Mark-recapture models fit to data from intensive monitoring of 210 individual lions in 18 prides and 14 male coalitions indicated a declining population, low recruitment, low sub-adult and adult male survival, depletion of adult males, and a senescing adult female population. Trophy hunting was the leading cause of death, with 46 males harvested. Based on these data we recommend continuing the hunting ban at least to 2016 to allow recovery, with substantially reduced quotas, age-limits, and effective trophy monitoring mandated thereafter should hunting resume. Similar data from intensive monitoring of key Zambian lion populations is required to evaluate effects of the hunting ban and provide management guidance. Effectively integrating intensive long-term monitoring and rapid survey methods should be a priority for future management and monitoring of carnivore species.

Climate change in Greenland is interfering with environmental and human systems at an accelerating rate. Climate-related effects are particularly observable in the Greenlandic tourism sector—which is a designated future key industry. Responding to these changes requires planned efforts for the various tourist seasons. To date, studies investigating how West Greenlandic winter tourism may be affected by Arctic warming remain sparse. Therefore, we used the regional climate model HIRHAM5 at a 5.5 km horizontal resolution for the RCP 8.5 scenario and two time slices (2031–2050 and 2081–2100), relative to the modelled historical period (1991–2010) to characterize the consequences of business-as-usual warming on recreational winter activities (i.e., resort skiing, ski-touring, heli-skiing, cross-country skiing, dog sledding, snowmobiling and trophy hunting). Study locations included Nuuk, Ilulissat, Sisimiut and Kangerlussuaq. Model data provide strong evidence for increasing annual mean temperature (between 1.1 °C and 4.6 °C) and precipitation (between 1% and 78%) in West Greenland until 2100, compared to 1991–2010. According to our results, snowfall and snow cover season length decrease (between 34% to 42% and 21% to 49%, respectively) in the long run. Resort skiing and cross-country skiing are affected by snow marginality and wet snow conditions, while ski-touring and heli-skiing demonstrate a higher adaptive capacity (i.e., translocation to snow safe destinations). A reduced snow cover thickness particularly threatens dog sledding. In-depth interviews were conducted with two local stakeholders working in winter tourism. Their perspectives suggested that they will be challenged adapting outdoor recreation by middle and end of the twenty-first century.

Using a stated choice experiment we empirically investigate which attributes of angling sites are important for attracting German tourist anglers to Denmark. We focus on the particularly dedicated anglers who choose a holiday destination at least partly based on recreational angling opportunities. Using a Latent Class modelling approach, we find that preferences are heterogeneous across different angler segments. Three distinct segments of tourist anglers are identified: “catch oriented” (57%), “nature oriented” (24%) and “trophy oriented” (19%). All three angler segments have strong preferences for water quality, but they differ with respect to catch preferences and preferences for social interaction at the angling site. To attract tourist anglers, an angling site manager may use this information to target marketing efforts towards certain segments of tourists that prefer the type and quality of angling characteristics of the manager's angling site(s). Additionally, the manager may seek to adjust and improve the angling sites in a way that suits the preferences of specific segments.

Carnivore populations are often managed based on the density dependent, compensatory mortality model, which suggests that trophy hunting of males causes an increase in female reproductive success, survival, and population growth. Our previous research on grizzly bears (Ursus acrtos) and cougars (Puma concolor) showed that increased mortality of males resulted in no net reduction in males due to increased immigration. Female reproduction and survival did not increase with male mortality. That research suggested that female demographics are additive to male mortality and might even be depensatory (inversely compensatory), whereby increased male immigration and infanticide may be associated with decreased female reproductive success, survival, and population growth. In this paper we test the compensatory, additive, and depensatory hypotheses by censoring female hunting deaths and plausible kitten infanticides from two independent cougar populations. The previously observed lack of compensatory demographics allowed us to censor deaths in this manner. The lightly hunted population (male hunting mortality = 0.16) had a female population growth rate of 1.05. With female mortality from hunting removed the growth rate increased to 1.14. The heavily hunted population (male hunting mortality = 0.35) had a female population growth rate of 0.78. With infanticide removed the growth rate increased to 0.89. With hunting mortality of females removed, the growth rate increased to 0.98. With both female mortalities and infanticide removed, the growth rate increased to 1.14. Light hunting of males (no net male immigration) decreased female population growth in an additive manner and heavy hunting of males (increased net male immigration) decreased female population growth in a depensatory manner. We reject the compensatory mortality hypothesis, and suggest that hunting of male carnivores has a negative additive or depensatory effect on female population growth depending on the intensity of male mortality. We recommend that hunting of polygnous carnivores not exceed their intrinsic growth rates to forestall excessive compensatory male immigration and infanticide. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife instituted a new ‘‘equilibrium’’ hunting management plan (hunting mortality < 14%/ year) for cougars in 2013 based on our findings and recommendations.

We analyze the relative price elasticity of unconventional versus conventional natural gas extraction. We separately analyze three key stages of gas production: drilling wells, completing wells, and producing natural gas from the completed wells. We find that the important margin is drilling investment, and neither production from existing wells nor completion times respond strongly to prices. We estimate a long-run drilling elasticity of 0.7 for both conventional and unconventional sources. Nonetheless, because unconventional wells produce on average 2.7 times more gas per well than conventional ones, the long-run price responsiveness of supply is almost 3 times larger for unconventional compared to conventional gas.Institutional subscribers to the NBER working paper series, and residents of developing countries may download this paper without additional charge at www.nber.org.

During the last few decades wildlife trophy hunting has increasingly replaced traditional meat hunting. The economics of trophy hunting is analyzed with the Scandinavian moose (Alces alces) serving as an example. A four-stage model (calf, yearlings, adult female and adult male) is formulated. The calves, yearlings, and females are hunted for meat, while the males are hunted for trophies and where the demand for trophy hunting depends on price and quality. We find that trophy hunting boosts the male population and yields a high ratio of males to females. The main reason for this result is that we consider a management scheme with well defined property rights and not of the ‘open-access’ type, and where the key mechanism is the quality demand effect in trophy hunting. In an extended model where ecological theory of animal adoption to hunting is assumed to influence the biology through fertility we still find that trophy hunting boosts the male stock.

The distribution of ostracod valves was studied in seven short ( 12 m) of four lowland, dimictic lakes (Kamedul, Szelment Maly, Szelment Wielki and Szurpily) situated in the Eastern Suwalki Lakeland of NE Poland. These postglacial channel lakes are still moderate in trophy level, but to some extent, they differ from each other in the increase of anthropogenic alterations, especially in their hypolimnion. The studied sediment sequences, corresponding roughly to the period of the last ca. 300 years, yielded ca. 5500 valves of 20 ostracod species, out of which only seven are here considered as the autochthonous profundal component of the fossil assemblages: Candona candida , C. neglecta , Fabaeformiscandona protzi , F. tricicatricosa , Bentocypria curvifurcata , Cytherissa lacustris and Limnocytherina sanctipatricii . Valves of the remaining species were most probably subjected to postmortem transport from shallow water deposits or from lakeside and/or subaqueous springs, and thus were not deposited in situ at the deep bottom. By clustering classification and multi-dimensional scaling ordination, three major assemblage types were recognised in the moderately eutrophicated parts of the studied lakes: (a) assemblage dominated by C. candida , (b) assemblage dominated by C. lacustris and (c) the most diverse assemblage, in which four species ( C. lacustris , C. candida , F. protzi and C. neglecta ) occur in more or less equal percentages. On the other hand, sediments of the most eutrophic basins of the lakes (especially in Kamedul and Szelment Maly) are characterised by the decline of total valve abundances and complete extinction of C. lacustris , a species indicative of low trophy, so that, in extreme cases, a few valves (if any) of more eurytopic or only allochthonous species could be found in some of the uppermost layers. Successional transitions of the recognised assemblage types are discussed according to the generalised model of the deep lacustrine ostracod succession previously established for the Polish lakes on the country scale. The recorded assemblages correspond well with the trophic diversity of the studied lakes, confirming inferences based on previously published data on other trophy indices from this area. Finally, additional data on modern profundal ostracod fauna from dredge samples of the studied lakes are also provided.

The site of Conchopata in the central Peruvian Andes was the secondary center in the heartland of the Wari Empire (AD 600–1000), and in this study we examine whether this urban locale was populated by locals, voluntary migrants from distant regions, and/or captives who were forcibly brought to Conchopata. We examine radiogenic strontium isotope ratios from 72 dental enamel and bone samples representing 31 formal burials and 18 human trophy heads to distinguish between locals and non-locals, and we examine skeletal and archaeological data to establish whether non-local persons were voluntary migrants or captives. We also describe a new, straightforward technique in the evaluation of radiogenic strontium isotope ratios to assist in detecting non-locals when large datasets are available. Results show that natal Conchopata inhabitants should exhibit radiogenic strontium isotope ratios that range from 87Sr/86Sr = 0.70548 to 87Sr/86Sr = 0.70610. Thus, among the 31 burials, 29 exhibit local values, suggesting that Conchopata was not a cosmopolitan center to which numerous foreigners migrated; rather, it was populated by local peoples, likely the descendants of the preceding Huarpa culture. The two individuals with non-local radiogenic strontium isotope ratios are an infant and a 17–22 years old female. The archaeological context suggests that the female may have been taken captive for subsequent sacrifice, as she was interred in front of the ritual D-shaped structure in which decapitated human heads (trophy heads) and sacrificed camelids were deposited. Among the 18 trophy heads sampled, 14 have non-local values, confirming previous studies of smaller samples that suggested that Wari warriors travelled to other locales and took captives—both adults and children—for subsequent transformation into trophy heads. Additional analyses of bone-tooth pairs from a subsample (12 burials and six trophy heads) shows that the burial group was much more sedentary (homogenous radiogenic strontium isotope ratios in bones and teeth) and the trophy head individuals were much more mobile (heterogenous radiogenic strontium isotope ratios in bones and teeth). Overall, the multiple lines of evidence support the notion that the Wari Empire occasionally used militaristic means, combined with elaborate ritualism, to subjugate other populations, a tactic that may have helped Wari establish and maintain control in particular regions in the Andes.

Strong social bonds are uncommon among male mammals. In many mammals, however, males form all male groups, providing opportunities for maleemale bonds to emerge. We examined association patterns of male African elephants, Loxodonta africana, in all-male groups and assessed the influence of age and genetic relatedness on these associations. We also examined the influence of age and genetic relatedness on the choice of sparring partners in male elephants. Males had many weak and random associations and few valuable relationships. Male associations were positively correlated with genetic relatedness, suggesting that kinship influences patterns of male associations. Male associations were negatively correlated with age disparity, and males were more likely to spar with other males closer in age to themselves. These results suggest that males associate with other males of similar age in part because sparring may facilitate the development and maintenance of motor and psychological responses to sudden and unexpected events that occur during play; this may help prepare males for male-emale competition. We also found that older males had high centrality and strength in social networks, suggesting that older males influence the cohesion of male social groups. Consequently, the elimination of older males from elephant populations by poachers or trophy hunters could negatively affect social cohesion in male elephant groups. Finally, we found that age and genetic relatedness were not significantly correlated, suggesting that male associations based on age and relatedness did not overlap. These findings highlight the complexity of male social relationships in all-male groups.

Hunting of individuals from a population can affect its demography and socio-spatial parameters. This study provided opportunities to assess such effects, and may help to improve the conservation of populations threatened by conflict and over-use. We treated the periods before and after a moratorium on the trophy hunting of lions around Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe, as a quasi-experimental opportunity to examine changes in lion socio-spatial behaviour during and after perturbation. Changes in ranging behaviour coincided with the release from heavy mortality from hunting outside the Park and were likely to be due to changes in the perturbation regime, rather than factors such as prey abundance, which did not change over the study period. Lion home range sizes decreased in both sexes after the moratorium. Overlap between groups decreased in males but increased in females. Variation in home range size reduced both annually and seasonally for both sexes. Home range centres became more closely distributed. Lions increased the use of denser vegetation cover classes (>30%) and decreased the use of open cover classes (10-30%). Lions increased the use of areas within 2-5. km of water, and decreased their use of the >20. km class. Perturbation therefore appeared to influence the socio-spatial behavior of the lion population. Managers considering the use of moratoria as a conservation tool must anticipate changes in the behavior and distribution of the target species. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.

The aim of this research was to determine the economic impact of trophy hunting in the wildlife industry of South Africa. The link to the questionnaire was distributed electronically by the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA) as well as by SCI (Safari Club International) to the 7600 hunters who engaged in hunting activities in South Africa during 2015/16 and 362 responses were recorded. The annual amount spend by trophy hunters in this country is US$250 million. Using multiplier analysis based on the Social Account Matrix (SAM) of South Africa, the research revealed that trophy hunting annually contributes more than US$341 million to the South African economy and that it supports more than 17 000 employment opportunities. The agricultural sector benefits the most, holding important implications for rural development and poverty alleviation in the country. Keywords: Hunting, Economics, Poverty, Rural, Tourism, Multiplier

Scholars continue to debate the identity of individuals curated as trophy heads in the Nazca Drainage of southern Peru (c. 1–800 AD). What was the role of trophy heads in Nasca society? Were they victims of warfare or venerated ancestors? Strontium, oxygen, and carbon isotope data from archaeological human tooth enamel from Nasca trophy heads from Aja, Cahuachi, Cantayo, Majoro Chico and Paredones, and from individuals buried in Nasca cemeteries at Cahuachi, Cantayo, and Majoro Chico elucidate the geographic origins and paleodiet of trophy heads in the Nazca Drainage. The 87Sr/86Sr and δ18Oc(V-PDB) data from both the trophy heads and the Nazca Drainage burials are all quite variable, and do not support the hypothesis that the Nasca trophy heads were obtained from a geographically-distinct population. Similarly, the δ13Cc(V-PDB) data demonstrates that the individuals included in this study consumed similar diets. These data suggest that the Nasca trophy heads likely derive from the local Nasca population. Rather than obtain heads from enemy warriors through geographic expansion or warfare as seen in other parts of the world, this complex social practice existed within the Nasca polity throughout space and time.

E. Bajkiewicz-Grabowska method, basing on evaluation both the drainage area as matter supplier and lake resistance to degradation, has been used to assess five differing lakes from Łeczna-Wlodawa Lakeland. The Krasne Lake and the Rogoźno Lake have been classified as first type – parameters of lakes and their drainage areas are not favourable for degradation. The second type – lake is resistant with the catchment having great ability to supply the reservoir with matter – was not represented by any of the selected lakes. The Rotcze Lake has been ranked as the third type – lake is not resistant but the drainage area is not active as matter supplier – pace of eutrophication is moderate but any interference in drainage area condition can lead to an increase in its rate. Two lakes Kleszczow and Miejskie have been classified as the forth type – lakes show great dependence on external factors and the catchment has a great ability to supply the reservoir with matter – the eutrophication is fast. The method can then be applied to asses lakes and their basins independently from their genesis, water trophy, water characteristics, lake and basin morphometry and catchment land use structure, geology or geographical location.

The pre-Columbian coastal site of Ancon, Peru frequently has been interpreted as an important outpost of the highland Wari Empire, inhabited by individuals from the sierra and the coast. In order to test this hypothesis, bone-tooth pairs from 35 Middle Horizon (550 AD-1000 AD) Ancon skeletons were analyzed for strontium isotopes, which vary by geologic provenance. Results indicate that 34 of the 35 individuals have 87 Sr/ 86 Sr enamel and bone values higher than Ancon's biologically available strontium isotope range. Nitrogen and carbon isotope data from a subset of the Ancon skeletons suggest that the higher than expected 87 Sr/ 86 Sr values among the Ancon sample likely reflects a diet rich in marine resources rather than migratory activity, and highlight the need to use multiple lines of evidence to track residence change at sites where individuals relied on resources other than locally grown terrestrial foods. The one remaining individual, a young female of elite status, has an enamel strontium isotope signature much lower than the available data for local fauna and soil indicating that she was not raised locally. Her enamel 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratio fits well within the range of strontium isotope values established for the inland Wari site of Conchopata (Tung, T.A., Knudson, K.J. Social identities and geographical origins of Wari trophy heads from Conchopata, Peru. Current Anthropology, in press.), and suggests that highland, Wari immigrants may have been present at Ancon during the Middle Horizon.

Phytoplankton productivity in peat-bog littoral of two limnologically distinct lakes of Łeczynsko-Wlodawawskie Lake District: Piaseczno and Bikcze, was studied in summers 2006–2007. Following parameters were determined: phytoplankton primary gross production, chlorophyll a concentration, and basic physicochemical factors of waters. Values of biological trophy indices at both lakes did not exceed the level typical for mesotrophy. Achieved results for lake Piaseczno littoral revealed the lack of significant influences of mucked peat-bog on trophic status of waters, as well as non-univocal effects of peat-bog on low productivity of phytoplankton in littoral of eutrophic lake Bikcze.

Starting in 2004, a system to monitor patrol staff performance, illegal wildlife use and trends in large-mammal populations was established in nine protected areas in Ghana. The main objectives were to use monitoring feedback as the foundation for informed decisions to aid adaptive and performance management, and to identify the most important factors contributing to wildlife conservation. The competitive management system resulted in a doubling of patrol performance. As a result, in the six savannah sites, poaching was reduced to acceptable levels by the end of 2007, but in the three forest sites, poaching remained high. To reverse poaching trends in the forest required a conventional patrol effort that was 10 times higher than that in the savannah. The relationship between the amount of illegal activity with the operational budget, senior staff performance, encounter rates with large mammals, human population densities and habitat, was investigated for 2005-2007. With three predictor variables, the model explained 63% of the variation in the encounter rates with illegal activity. Increasing human population densities gave higher levels of poaching. Increasing frequencies of camp visits by senior officers and increasing operational budgets gave lower levels of poaching. In the second model, elephant poaching was used as the response variable and relative elephant density as an additional predictor variable. One predictor variable - that is elephant density - explained 38% of the total variation in elephant poaching. Elephant density incorporated the effects of camp visit frequencies, human densities, and habitat. Commercial trophy hunting for ivory, as opposed to subsistence hunting, was more sensitive to the density of the target species and efforts to curtail the activity. Subsistence hunting was proportional to human densities, with mainly members of nearby communities involved, while elephant poaching was not, mainly involving specialised hunters from towns further away.

Adjustment of transport networks is relatively common after the establishment of new international boundaries. This paper examines a more immediate and devastating change – the deliberate dismantling of railway lines and equipment by Soviet Red Army troops on present-day Polish territory (1944–1948), and their removal to the Soviet Union as war-booty. Severe wartime damage suffered by Poland was augmented by devastation at the hands of the trofeynye batalyony (trophy battalions) entering Polish territory in parallel with the movement of the front line, and destroying or dismantling all lootable railway infrastructure and rolling stock. Few traces of what had existed remain, with the obvious exceptions of embankments and cuttings. An information base on the location and scale of the railway network destruction and complete or partial dismantling is compiled by cartographic analysis, literature studies and extensive fieldwork. Reasons are given for the devastation and some of the transport effects are considered. The utilisation of former railway land is also discussed.

A variety of human activities have detrimental impacts on populations of species the park is designed to protect. These impacts range from direct hunting for trophy or subsistence needs, through vehicular collisions, to the direct loss of habitat due to forestry and agricultural activity. These impacts reduce the effective size of the parks and require changes in management policy that deal both with the direct cause of the problem and the underlying social conflicts that the presence of parks can place on humans in the surrounding communities. Recent studies from the Serengeti illustrate that increases in anti-poaching patrols increase the risk of poacher detection and lead to dramatic declines in levels of poaching. The economic arguments that support investment in anti-poaching patrols, rather than increased sentences for poachers who are caught, can be generalized to examine the costs and benefits of other changes in natural resource management that arise when attempting to manage the impact of anthropogenic activities in and around national parks.