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The decrease in African rhino poaching incidents since 2015 has prompted many to praise the effectiveness of anti-poaching efforts. To test the validity of this statement, we calculated how far poachers moved on average from 2007 to 2022 to find a rhino in the context of the dwindling rhino densities. These calculations demonstrate that the total poaching pressure has remained persistently high since 2013. Given the concurrently declining arrest rates, our results show that the rhino protection practices of the past decade have been insufficient. Instead, we propose that rhinos can best be protected in small and well-monitored "safe havens" while focusing on long-term rhino horn demand reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population size and conservation status of wildlife in post‐conflict areas is often uncertain. In Mozambique, decades of armed conflict resulted in large‐scale wildlife population depletion with limited conservation and research opportunities. The African leopard (Panthera pardus) is a large carnivore with great ecological and economic significance, yet their population status is largely unknown within Mozambique. Using camera trapping in conjunction with robust spatially explicit capture‐recapture modeling, we estimated leopard density in 2021 for Coutada 11, a wildlife management area in the postwar Zambezi Delta landscape of central Mozambique. Leopard density was relatively low (1.57 ± 0.37 SE [latent‐mixture‐model] and 1.84 ± 0.41 [sex‐mixture‐model] leopards/100 km2), occurring in the bottom fourth of 161 range‐wide leopard densities, and similar to those from semiarid and human‐dominated landscapes. Prey‐based carrying capacity estimates suggested that leopard density should be at least twice as large. Despite a recent and substantial reduction in poaching activity, evidence of snared leopards indicates that sustained bushmeat poaching, combined with sustainable, but additional legal offtake is suppressing leopard population recovery. This study provides important baseline insight into leopard population density in Mozambique and joins mounting evidence indicating that anthropogenic pressures limit large carnivore populations which is of major national and global concern. We suggest long‐term monitoring of this leopard population to determine trends over time and implement effective conservation interventions in response to population changes. This population clearly has the capacity to recover if hunting quotas are reduced to account for illegal offtake and, more importantly, if anti‐poaching efforts are redoubled to reduce unsustainable anthropogenic mortality of leopards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vultures are among the most threatened species in Africa, with several critically endangered species surviving mainly or only in protected areas. West African vulture declines are correlated with steep losses of natural habitat and mammalian wildlife. Major factors driving vulture extirpations include wildlife trade for traditional medicine, belief-based rituals, and bushmeat. Current data on vulture abundance and breeding ecology are crucial for conservation but lacking in many countries, including Ghana. Between 2020 and 2022, we conducted 761 km of surveys for critically endangered vultures in Mole National Park (Mole NP), a 4840 km2 protected savanna in northern Ghana. Using our count data, we estimated populations of 29–36 Hooded Vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus), 25–73 White-backed Vultures (Gyps africanus), and 3–4 White-headed Vultures (Trigonoceps occipitalis) in the southern region of Mole NP. We also documented 17 occupied vulture nests, including six Hooded Vulture nests, 10 White-backed Vulture nests, and one White-headed Vulture nest. Our findings include the first nest records for Hooded Vultures in Mole NP, the first nest description of White-backed Vultures in Ghana, and the first nest records for White-headed Vultures in Ghana, confirming the importance of Mole NP for conserving critically endangered vultures. Reducing poaching, preventing the killing of vultures for wildlife trade, and protecting vulture habitat and food resources will be paramount to the survival of critically endangered vultures in Ghana and West Africa. Los buitres están entre las especies más amenazadas en África, con varias especies en peligro crítico de extinción que sobreviven principalmente o sólo en áreas protegidas. Las disminuciones de buitres del oeste de África están correlacionadas con pérdidas pronunciadas de hábitat natural y de fauna de mamíferos, y el comercio de fauna silvestre para medicina tradicional, rituales basados en creencias y carne de caza son los factores principales que impulsan su extinción local. Los datos actuales sobre abundancia y ecología reproductiva de los buitres son cruciales para su conservación, pero faltan en muchos países, incluyendo Ghana. Entre 2020 y 2022, realizamos 761 km de censos de buitres en peligro crítico de extinción en el Parque Nacional Mole (PN Mole), una sabana protegida de 4840 km2 en el norte de Ghana. Usando nuestros datos de conteo, estimamos poblaciones de 29–36 individuos de Necrosyrtes monachus, 25–73 individuos de Gyps africanus y 3–4 individuos de Trigonoceps occipitalis en la región sur del PN Mole. También documentamos 17 nidos de buitre ocupados, incluyendo seis nidos de N. monachus, 10 nidos de G. africanus y un nido de T. occipitalis. Nuestros hallazgos incluyen los primeros registros de nidos de N. monachus en el PN Mole, la primera descripción del nido de G. africanus en Ghana y los primeros registros de nidos de T. occipitalis en Ghana, confirmando la importancia del PN Mole para conservar buitres en peligro crítico de extinción. Reducir la caza furtiva, prevenir la matanza de buitres para el comercio de fauna silvestre, y proteger el hábitat y los recursos alimenticios de los buitres será fundamental para la supervivencia de los buitres en peligro crítico de extinción en Ghana y África Occidental. [Traducción de los autores editada] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Resolving the taxonomic ambiguity of a species is important for their long-term conservation. We used non-invasive DNA sampling and camera trapping to address the taxonomic ambiguity in musk deer species in the Western Himalayas, and species occurrence locations were used to model the species distribution to identify suitable habitats. The combined results confirm the presence of only Kashmir musk deer (KMD) in the Western Himalayas. During our survey, no other musk deer species were found in the study area. This finding suggests that the presence of other species, such as Himalayan musk deer and Alpine musk deer, were incorrectly reported in the past. The predicted distribution (6% of the total area) of Kashmir musk deer is a narrow belt of the Western Himalayas between 2500 and 4500 m. Based on this study, we recommend long-term monitoring and assessment of KMD throughout its distribution range for its conservation and management. Insufficient research has been conducted on musk deer species across their distribution range, primarily because of their elusive behaviour and the fact they occupy remote high-altitude habitats in the Himalayas above 2500 m. The available distribution records, primarily derived from ecological studies with limited photographic and indirect evidence, fail to provide comprehensive information on the species distribution. Consequently, uncertainties arise when attempting to determine the presence of specific taxonomic units of musk deer in the Western Himalayas. This lack of knowledge hampers species-oriented conservation efforts, as there need to be more species-specific initiatives focused on monitoring, protecting, and combatting the illegal poaching of musk deer for their valuable musk pods. We used transect surveys (220 trails), camera traps (255 cameras), non-invasive DNA sampling (40 samples), and geospatial modelling (279 occurrence records) to resolve the taxonomic ambiguity, and identify the suitable habitat of musk deer (Moschus spp.) in Uttarkashi District of Uttarakhand and the Lahaul–Pangi landscape of Himachal Pradesh. All the captured images and DNA-based identification results confirmed the presence of only Kashmir musk deer (KDM) (Moschus cupreus) in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The results suggest that KMD inhabit a narrow range of suitable habitats (6.9%) of the entire Western Himalayas. Since all evidence indicates that only KMD are present in the Western Himalayas, we suggest that the presence of other species of musk deer (Alpine musk deer and Himalayan musk deer) was wrongly reported. Therefore, future conservation plans and management strategies must focus only on KMD in the Western Himalayas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anti-poaching is an important component of the tourism management system for destinations that rely on wildlife as their key attraction. The present paper, broadly grounded in political ecology, explores how social justice tenets are used to frame and implement anti-poaching initiatives in Sub-Saharan Africa. In particular, the study examines the Akashinga model, a Zimbabwean woman-only anti-poaching initiative founded by the Australian conservation activist, Damien Mander. Political ecology lends itself well to the analysis of social justice initiatives as it unpacks how political, economic and social factors interact with environmental issues and changes. Akashinga is particularly compelling as a socially innovative conservation model intended to replace hunting tourism in Sub-Saharan wilderness areas. Data were collected from a rich selection of online sources, including social media and relevant websites. Our analysis reveals Akashinga's framing and modus operandi as premised three dimensions: community involvement, the empowerment of women, and the superiority of women in achieving anti-poaching success and broader conservation outcomes. It is argued that, while Akashinga makes a positive contribution to the local community and wildlife conservation efforts, there are important caveats to consider, in the context of postcolonial power relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas are the cornerstones of wildlife conservation efforts; hence it's monitoring and protection is fundamental to halting biodiversity declines. This work then assess the effectiveness of wildlife monitoring efforts such as anti-poaching patrol in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria to evaluate the level of success of protective operations for the improvement of antipoaching programmes for sustainable wildlife management. Secondary data were sourced from the official records of antipoaching activities including arrests and prosecutions were obtained from the management information unit of the park. The data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistical analysis using table, figure and graph. The results show that arrest and prosecution made for grazing of livestock and poaching were the major offences committed in the ten (10) years appraised. Highest offenders (206) were arrest and prosecuted for grazing of livestock in 2018. The year 2016 had the lowest arrested offenders in Kainji Lake National Park in the last decade (123 offenders) while 2018 had the highest with 287 offenders. The total number of arrest and prosecution made within the ten year period was 1,849. The highest revenue generated in Park in a year was ₦9,010,108.22 in 2018 while the lowest revenue generated in the last ten years was ₦6,466,223.60 in 2016. The total revenue generated in the study area from 2010 to 2019 was ₦74, 355,351.24. There appears to be relationship between arrests of offenders and revenue generation across the years (direct proportion). Evaluation of records of arrests and prosecution between 2010 and 2019 show that high number of offenders arrested and prosecuted for grazing of livestock and poaching for the period evaluated could heighten conflict in the study area. Therefore, local participation of communities surrounding the park is also important to the effectiveness of protective practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) is a migratory species that overwinters in sub-Saharan Africa, migrating to Europe each spring to breed. Over the past four decades, turtle dove populations have declined by as much as 79%, making the species vulnerable to extinction. A major threat to the species is illegal killing (poaching) during its spring migration through the Mediterranean coasts of Europe. According to the international action plan for the conservation of the species, eradicating this threat is key for reversing the European turtle dove population declines by 2028. In this study, we used a network of acoustic sensors to record the gun hunting pressure at known hunting sites in the Ionian Islands, Greece—a known poaching hot-spot—over four spring migrations (2019–2022). Based on the number of gunshots recorded, we estimate that up to 57,095 turtle doves were killed or injured across the region in 2021. We anticipate that these findings will generate the resolve needed among responsible authorities to eradicate the spring migration in the Ionian Islands, and propose the roll out acoustic monitoring grids in additional poaching hot-spots along the migration routes of the turtle dove. The European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) is an Afro-Palearctic migrant whose populations have declined by 79% from 1980 to 2014. In 2018, the International Single Species Action Plan for the Turtle Dove (ISSAP) was developed with the goal of enabling, by 2028, an increase in turtle dove numbers along each of the three migration flyways (western, central, eastern). To achieve this, the illegal killing of turtle doves, a critical threat to the species, has to be eradicated. The Ionian Islands off the west coast of Greece lie on the eastern flyway and are considered a major turtle dove poaching hot-spot during spring migration. Quantifying wildlife crime, however, is challenging. In the absence of a reliable protocol for monitoring spring poaching levels, the agencies tasked with tackling the problem have no means of assessing the effectiveness of the anti-poaching measures and adapting them if required. Using passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) methods, we recorded gun hunting intensity at known turtle dove poaching sites during the 2019–2022 spring migrations (2–10 sites/season) with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. Based on published gunshot to killed/injured bird ratio for similar species (corroborated with discussions with local hunters) and an estimate of the proportion of hunting sites monitored by our PAM grid (using gunshot detection range estimates from control gunshots), we estimated that in 2021, up to 57,095 turtle doves were killed or injured across five Ionian Islands (Zakynthos, Paxi, Antipaxi, Othoni, and Mathraki). The 2022 estimate was almost half, but it is unclear as to whether the change is due to a decline in poachers or turtle doves. We propose ways of improving confidence in future estimates, and call for a temporary moratorium of autumn turtle dove hunting in Greece—as per ISSAP recommendation—until spring poaching is eradicated and the eastern flyway population shows signs of a full recovery. Finally, we hope our findings will pave the way for the development of PAM grids at turtle dove poaching hot-spots across all migration flyways, contributing to the global conservation of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat loss, habitat degradation and poaching threaten the survival of large mammals in Southeast Asia. Studies on these threats tend to focus on small spatial scales (i.e. a protected area), precluding region-wide species assessments that can inform conservation management. Using existing camera trap data, we constructed occupancy models to understand patterns of habitat use as well as predict the distribution of sun bears Helarctos malayanus across Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. We found that bear distribution was related to above-ground carbon density and human settlement density, characteristics that describe the quality of bear habitat and a potential threat of poaching, respectively. Only half of sun bear distribution in Sabah falls within protected areas. Outside of protected areas, we predicted the reduction of sun bear distribution under simulated future conventional selective logging (forest degradation) and industrial tree plantation expansion (forest loss) scenarios. In the scenario involving forest degradation, sun bear distribution across Sabah only decreased by ~ 4%, supporting existing evidence that sun bears are resilient to selective logging impacts. Forest loss, however, had a larger impact, reducing sun bear distribution by ~ 11% in the scenario involving high forest loss. We recommend a focus on long term monitoring of sun bear habitat suitability trends, especially outside protected areas, along with strong anti-poaching efforts. Our study demonstrates the utility of pooling existing camera trap data to understand region-wide species distributions that could assist in setting conservation priorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2014, the elephant population in the Zambezi valley had reduced by at least 40% as compared to 2001 figures and the elephant density had reduced to 0.69 elephant/km SP 2 sp from 1.13 elephant/km SP 2 sp in 2001 (Dunham et al., 2015). Although anti-poaching efforts are in place (Lunstrum, 2014; Mukwazvure & Magadza, 2014), elephant poaching remains the major driver of elephant decline (e.g. in the Mid-Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe). Following this decline, mainly related to poaching, anti-poaching strategies have increased within the Mid-Zambezi Valley to combat the illegal killing of elephants. Trends in elephant poaching in the Mid-Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe: Lessons learnt and future outlook. [Extracted from the article]

Parks are essential for protecting biodiversity and finding ways to improve park effectiveness is an important topic. We contributed to this debate by examining spatial and temporal changes in illegal activities in Kibale National Park, Uganda between 2006 and 2016 and used existing data to evaluate how the changes were correlated with the living conditions of people in neighboring communities, as well as patrolling effort. We explore the effectiveness of conservation strategies implemented in Kibale, by quantifying changes in the abundance of nine animal species over two to five decades. While uncertainty in such animal survey data are inherently large and it is hard to generalize across a 795‐km2 area that encompasses diverse habitat types, data suggest an increase in animal abundance in the National Park. An increase in patrolling effort by park guards over the decade was correlated with a decline in the number of traps and snares found, which suggests patrolling helped limit resource extraction from the park. The park's edge was extensively used for illegal forest product extraction, while the setting of snares occurred more often deeper in the forest. Perhaps counter‐intuitively, increased community wealth or park‐related employment in a village next to the park were positively correlated with increased illegal forest product extraction. Overall, our results suggest that the portfolio of conservation strategies used over the last two to five decades were effective for protecting the park and its animals, although understanding the impact of these efforts on local human populations and how to mitigate any losses and suffering they sustain remains an important area of research and action. It is evident that complex social, political and economic drivers impact conservation success and more interdisciplinary studies are required to quantify and qualify these dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graph An elephant grazes next to the southwestern boundary fence that separates Kruger National Park from densely populated villages and towns. In the last decade, elephant numbers in the Greater Kruger[22] have made a "dramatic recovery"[23] after elephants were virtually extinct in the 1900s due to uncontrolled hunting.[24] The Greater Kruger comprises a relatively open ecological system, including the Kruger National Park and a network of provincial, private, and community-owned reserves. In 2022, South Africa's Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DEFFE) approved an annual hunting quota of 150 elephants, representing 0.005% of the elephant population in the Greater Kruger. Elephants in South Africa are "better protected and far more intensely managed than elsewhere,"[25] breeding more quickly, living longer, and using landscapes more intensely.[26] Despite African savanna elephants being classified as critically endangered, the increase in the size of the Greater Kruger's Savanna elephant population - currently roughly 35,000 - is the highest ever recorded.[27] Given the concurrent growth in human and elephant population numbers, it comes as no surprise that conflict between humans and elephants are also on the rise,[28] adding to local people's costs of living with wildlife, particularly elephants.[29] However, elephants can also provide "tangible benefits to humans, such as meat and money, from tourism and hunting."[30] The challenge facing park managers in the Greater Kruger is more poignant than ever: balancing the ecological, economic, and social costs and benefits of a thriving elephant population adjacent to millions of impoverished people. [Extracted from the article]

The Kaziranga National Park (KNP), a World Heritage Site in the state of Assam, India, represents an area of unique importance to global rhinoceros conservation. It is home to the world's largest population of the famous black Asiatic one-horned rhinoceros, which remains an endangered species, and one that has been closely threatened with extinction. This article explores the conservation strategies for the great endangered Indian one-horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga by situating it in a regional spectrum of conservation and regimes of ecological governance. It considers the crucial issue of rhinoceros poaching and the current anti-poaching mechanisms in KNP in the light of global wildlife conservation efforts and domestic anti-poaching mechanisms in India. It further identifies the gaps between policy formulation and implementation of conservation strategies regarding the rhinoceros of KNP, a species that holds a unique geopolitical importance, both in the global context of the conservation of endangered species generally, and more locally as the national symbol of the state of Assam, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal poaching poses threat to the natural ecosystem, hastens the extinction of animal species, and disrupts forestry and other natural resources. Countries usually deploy security personnel to protect these resources from poachers. However, preservation of such resources is oftentimes hindered by the lack of manpower of concerned agencies. Green security, a discipline that leverages the game theoretic concepts to assist human patrols has recently emerged to mitigate this problem. Over the past few years, a good number of studies have been conducted on various aspects of such security systems including poachers’ behavior modeling, optimal patrolling route generation, and signalling mechanisms to assist guards. In this paper, we contribute to the literature in the following three ways. First, we offer a radio signalling scheme to assist human guards. Second, we introduce two concepts regarding the guarding patterns: (a) the concept of “boundedness” is coined which limits the patrolling area of human guards and (b) the concept of “move skipping” is put forth which is to compulsorily abstain from moving at some timesteps while patrolling. Third, we investigate the required number of deployed drones to achieve an effective monitoring. Our simulation results show that the proposed schemes have the capability to reduce poaching occurrences, while, at the same time, decrease over-patrolling and fuel usage. Our research focuses on analyzing and comparing different variations of a green security game setup. In our research, we analyze and compare these different aspects of various patrolling patterns and based on our findings, we provide useful insights that contribute to the development of the research field of green security and security schemes in general, including both human patrols and drones, which are deployed to prevent poachers or adversaries from poaching resources.

The illegal ivory trade is the main driver of elephant poaching in Africa. In recent years, China—long regarded as the main destination of illegal ivory trade—has undertaken a series of policy interventions to curtail ivory imports, such as the closure of ivory carving enterprises. In this article we explore the impact of these recent interventions on the price of ivory and poaching and the wider drivers connected to the illegal trade, such as China's macro-economic performance. The research demonstrates that the price of illegal ivory in China has dropped significantly, mainly due to measures taken under China's "Ecological Civilization" (EC) programme and ivory trade ban to curb demand and supply. The number of illegal ivory seizures decreased over time but remains active, with a high proportion of seizures categorized as minor infringements (ivory pieces under 2.4 kg) often imported by tourists as souvenirs. We also find that the price of ivory is recovering in other destinations such as Vietnam, and it is becoming clear that all countries should make more political commitments on the existing basis to elephant conservation and curtailing illegal ivory trade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current biodiversity crisis calls for effective conservation measures. However, some measures may have unforeseen negative consequences on individual species. Herding, a management practice currently used in some wildlife species to protect animals from poachers, can cause habituation to humans, which unintentionally might increase their risk of being poached at a later time. Herding could also negatively impact animal welfare and physiology when perceived as a stressor, with potential negative consequences at the individual and population level. In this study, we tested the following hypotheses: 1) herding elicits habituation to humans in white rhino, and 2) this practice affects the behavior and physiological state of rhino, but they can habituate to it. To that aim, we investigated the effects of herding on the response of rhino to initially unfamiliar people, expression of aggressive and discomfort behaviors, and fecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) concentrations (a commonly used indicator of physiological stress) in two cohorts of six and 10 semi‐wild orphan white rhino. Rhino did not interrupt their activity to an approaching person on foot (99%) or in a vehicle (94%), indicating habituation to humans. Aggressive and discomfort behaviors were displayed more often while being herded, and their frequency increased significantly with increasing herding pressure. Finally, overall mean fGCM concentrations were 16.1% higher under herding compared to non‐herding conditions, but individual fGCM levels varied up to 17‐fold under each scenario, suggesting that herding might not elicit a physiological stress response in these animals. While rhino security is paramount in the current poaching crisis, management practices must ensure that they do not impact negatively at the individual and population level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal resource use in protected areas is a problem for park managers. We investigated status and distribution of illegal activities inside Rwenzori Mountains National Park in areas adjacent to four sites where hydropower projects were being developed outside the park. We used in‐park plot, nonplot‐based methods and community surveys and compared findings from these with ranger patrol records of the Uganda Wildlife Authority. Seventeen kinds of illegal activities were recorded. Collection of medicinal plants and poaching were the most pervasive forms of illegal activities inside the park. Poaching exhibited significant differences (p = 0.03) across sites, and prevalence of poaching signs increased with distance from park boundary at two sites (p = 0.05). The study revealed higher levels of illegal activities than earlier recorded from ranger patrol data. Sixty‐eight per cent (68%) and 44% of the respondents reported participation in collection of medicinal plants and poaching, respectively. Ninety‐eight per cent (98%) of respondents agreed that the park is an important source for natural resources. Ranger patrols should extend further inside the park rather than near the boundaries as has been the case. The findings set a valuable benchmark for assessing the temporal and spatial variation of illegal resource extraction over the hydropower projects' duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The queen conch fishery in Jamaica is sustained by Pedro Bank, which is the main harvesting site located approximately 80 km south-west from Kingston. Due to its relative size, Pedro Bank has been subdivided into zones for management purposes by the Fisheries Division and the Veterinary Services Division. Understanding whether these sub-divisions reflect different sub-populations is critical for managing exploitation levels because fisheries management must demonstrate that harvesting does not endanger the future viability of the population as queen conch are on Appendix II of the Convention in Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This determination is essential for the continued export to international markets such as the European Union. Two hundred and eight samples were collected across the entire Pedro Bank and were genetically characterized using nine polymorphic microsatellite loci. Population structure analysis for Lobatus gigas from Pedro Bank yielded low but significant values (FST = 0.009: p = 0.006) and suggested a high magnitude of gene flow indicative of a fit and viable population throughout the bank. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated a 100% variation within individual samples with little variation (0.9%) between populations. In contrast pairwise genetic comparisons identified significant differences between populations located to the south eastern and eastern region of the bank to those in the central and western locations. Bayesian clustering analysis also indicated the likelihood of two population sub-divisions (K = 2) on Pedro Bank. The results provided evidence of a weak but significant population structure which has crucial implications for the fishing industry as it suggests the use of ecosystem based management (EBM) in setting quotas to promote sustainable harvesting of L. gigas within each monitoring zone on Pedro Bank. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a world where biodiversity is on the decline, examples of conservation success especially of large carnivores are of interest to policy makers and conservation practitioners. Herein, we elucidate the conservation actions that have been responsible for the recovery of tigers and their ecosystems in India; a feat many range countries are struggling to achieve.Demand‐driven poaching resulted in extinctions at two prestigious Tiger Reserves. India's Prime Minister constituted a Tiger Task Force that led to the formation of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, scientific monitoring of tiger populations and incentivized voluntary relocation of human settlements from tiger reserves. Tiger Conservation Plans, cognizant of constraints imposed by small reserves embedded in human land uses, aimed to create source populations within tiger reserves with corridor links between sources and to sink habitats. Metapopulation management enhanced occupancy and long‐term viability of tiger populations. Tiger Protection Force and technology like MSTrIPES, E‐eye and drones effectively reduced poaching. Community support was attempted through profit sharing, mitigating human–tiger conflict with a fast, fair and transparent compensation process and removal of problem tigers. Reintroduction and reinforcement of tigers and prey assisted natural recovery. Political will ensured resources.Tigers were monitored using Spatially Explicit Capture–Recapture with camera traps and ecological covariates. In 2018–2019 from 381,000 km2 of tiger habitat, 89,000 km2 was occupied. Currently, 50 tiger reserves cover 72,750 km2 and harbour 65% of India's ~3,000 tigers. Tiger reserves are managed with an annual investment of ~1,000 USD/km2 with one staff per 6.5 km2. Tiger reserves were regularly evaluated for Management Effectiveness. Tiger reserves were valued to have benefit flows between 76,900 and 292,300 US$ km−2year−1.In the Anthropocene it is unlikely that tigers will survive without targeted conservation investments. Political commitment and resources can become available for conservation when people and tigers benefit simultaneously. Conscious balance by governments between development for rapid economic prosperity and long‐term ecological security will ensure that wild tigers and their intact ecosystems will survive for future generations. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ebo Forest in Cameroon is a biodiverse hotspot that is under threat from logging. The government of Cameroon has classified a portion of the forest as a Forest Management Unit, which allows for timber exploitation while also claiming to conserve threatened biodiversity in designated Conservation Enclaves. However, past experiences with similar units have shown that Conservation Enclaves are ineffective in preventing large-scale poaching facilitated by logging. This decision puts unique and rare species at risk of extinction. To address this issue, the authors recommend classifying the remaining portion of the Ebo Forest as a protected area and including ranger patrols in the management plans of Forest Management Units. [Extracted from the article]

The lack of an appropriate methodology makes numerous important issues related to miniature paintings unresolved—despite the fact that the portrait miniatures of the seventeenth to the nineteenth century represent a highly specific and significant field of European fine art. One of these issues is represented by chemical degradation of miniatures and its analytical evidence. Fragility, variability of the employed materials, and detailed execution make their analysis highly challenging—since no sampling is usually allowed and any change on their surface is immediately noticeable. Therefore, this study focused on finding a fully non-invasive multi-analytical approach to describe degradation processes resulting from the interaction of lead pigments and oils. For this purpose, a representative set of miniature portraits on various supports (ivory, metal, glass) has been selected. For the first time, Pb carboxylates (lead soaps) have been evidenced in miniatures painted in oil and also in a combined technique (gum + oil). Their distribution and crystallinity was described by a combination of X-ray-based (X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction) and micro-spectroscopic methods. At the same time, a number of new findings about the employed painting technique and involvement of various pigments in the degradation processes were obtained. For example, a possible saponification of a mixed Pb-Sn-Sb yellow was indicated for the first time. Although the degradation is clearly at an advanced stage, it has not shown yet any visible symptoms that might warn restorers and curators. Therefore, without targeted analysis, it would remain overlooked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In three studies, death imagery and regulatory focus are examined for their effects in wildlife protection campaigns. Images of death are found to lead to positive intentions to conserve wildlife through fear, but only when ads are prevention‐focused rather than promotion‐focused. In Study 1, participants who view an image of a dead elephant indicate feeling fear and stronger intentions to conserve wildlife. In Study 2, participants who view a prevention‐focused ad depicting a dead rhino indicate stronger intentions to sign a wildlife conservation pledge, but the effect is attenuated when the ad is promotion‐focused. Study 3 finds similar results using the image of a dead tiger. Theoretical insights and practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity loss is on the list of the most challenging issues the world sustainability faces. This study aims to examine the global illegal ivory trades, identify key hub countries and map the key smuggling routes in the worldwide illegal ivory trading network. A social network analysis (SNA) and a set of network indicators are used to investigate CITES's (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) ivory trading data from 1975 to 2017. Several important conclusions are derived: (1) The social network of global ivory trading is closely connected, with an average path length of 2.643 and an average clustering coefficient of 0.463. An average of 45,410.384 kg of ivory products was trafficked from each of the 182 countries to an average of another 8.17 countries. The dynamic networks of global ivory trading show the pattern of high connectivity and high aggregation. (2) The USA, the UK, Zimbabwe, South Africa, China, Japan, Sudan, Belgium and Hong Kong are the most important hubs in the worldwide ivory trade according to degrees and centralities in the SNA. (3) According to trading weight density, three significant ivory trafficking routes are illustrated: 1. African countries (Sudan, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Central African Republic, the Republic of Congo, Somalia and Uganda) to Hong Kong; 2. Belgium to Hong Kong and Japan; 3. Mutual transactions between Japan and Hong Kong. The analytical framework in this study can also be useful for studying other illegal trading activities, like other animal trades, with respect to biodiversity conversation, and could serve as a reference for other network-based sustainability challenges, such as human migration, biological invasion, and waste smuggling and dumping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain ungulates around the world have been decimated to small, fragmented populations. Restoring these species often is limited by inadequate information on where suitable habitat is found, and which restoration measures would help to increase and link existing populations. We developed an approach to spatially target threat‐specific restoration actions and demonstrate it for bezoar goats (Capra aegagrus) in the Caucasus. Using a large occurrence dataset, we identified suitable habitat patches and evaluate them in terms of connectivity, protection status, and competition with other mountain ungulates. We found extant bezoar goat populations to be highly isolated, yet with widespread areas of suitable, unoccupied habitat between them. Many unoccupied habitat patches were well‐connected to extant populations, were at least partly protected, and have low potential for competition with other Capra species. This signals substantial pressure on bezoar goats, likely due to poaching, which currently prevents natural recolonization. Our study shows how restoration planning is possible in the face of multiple threats and scarce data. For bezoar goats in the Caucasus, we pinpoint priority patches for specific restoration measures, including reintroductions and anti‐poaching action. We highlight that many patches would benefit from multiple interventions and that transboundary restoration planning is needed, a situation likely similar for many mountain ungulates around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community Markets for Conservation is a private sector, not‐for‐profit social enterprise in Zambia. It was established in 2003 to halt wildlife poaching and illegal tree cutting for charcoal by helping poor rural families to increase their food and income security through improved farming practices and marketing of value‐added agricultural commodities. COMACO supports 178,891 farmers in the Luangwa Valley, providing them with improved farming skills, seed loans, a premium price for their crop surplus, and a dividend if they comply with sustainable farming and wildlife, and forest conservation best practices. Maize yields using COMACO methods increased by 63% and net income was 37% higher than for farmers who purchased inorganic fertilizers. Between 2012 and 2018 the number of food secure families increased from 67–84%. Elephant poaching has declined in all but one COMACO district, poaching is now primarily conducted by nonlocal hunters, and leg‐hold snare detections by community game scouts have decreased significantly in COMACO areas. Increasing food and income security while reducing deforestation and unsustainable hunting for ~$US10 per farmer per year is cheap and can be replicated in Zambia and other nations in Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Passive acoustic monitoring is rapidly gaining recognition as a practical, affordable and robust tool for measuring gun hunting levels within protected areas, and consequently for its potential to evaluate anti-poaching patrols' effectiveness based on outcome (i.e., change in hunting pressure) rather than effort (e.g., kilometres patrolled) or output (e.g., arrests). However, there has been no report to date of a protected area successfully using an acoustic grid to explore baseline levels of gun hunting activity, adapting its patrols in response to the evidence extracted from the acoustic data and then evaluating the effectiveness of the new patrol strategy. We report here such a case in Cameroon's Korup National Park, where anti-poaching patrol effort was markedly increased in the 2015–2016 Christmas/New Year holiday season to curb the annual peak in gunshots recorded by a 12-sensor acoustic grid in the same period during the previous 2 years. Despite a three- to five-fold increase in patrol days, distance and area covered, the desired outcome – lower gun hunting activity – was not achieved under the new patrol scheme. The findings emphasize the need for adaptive wildlife law enforcement and how passive acoustic monitoring can help attain this goal, and they warn about the risks of using effort-based metrics of anti-poaching strategies as a surrogate for desired outcomes. We propose ways of increasing protected areas' capacity to adopt acoustic grids as a law enforcement monitoring tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal wildlife trade is a rapidly evolving environmental crime that is expanding through e-commerce. Because of the nature of the internet, detection of online illegal wildlife and enforcement has proven to be difficult and time-consuming, often based on manual searches through the use of keywords. As a result of scrutiny, traders in elephant ivory now use code words to disguise the trade, thus adding an additional level of complexity. Here we look at the use of 19 code words and phrases associated with the online trade in elephant ivory items on eBay across four European Union (EU) member states. Results show that, in spite of eBay's ban on ivory, elephant ivory is still being offered for sale across all four sites we searched (183 ivory items offered by 113 sellers during 18 January–5 February 2017). Beyond the violation of eBay's Terms and Conditions, other potential illegalities included offers for sale across international borders without mention of CITES permit requirements, and the offer of ivory that may be considered unworked, which violates EU regulations. Code word usage was found to be consistent across all four EU countries. Although the rise of online wildlife trade is of concern, the growth of global markets may homogenize conventions within trading communities, such as in this case the code words used. Homogenization of conventions may therefore offer opportunities for tackling the illegal online trade in wildlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite being a party to CITES, China remains active in the ivory trade. A Chinese norm identifies ivory as "white gold," resulting in China becoming a main destination market for illegal ivory. Not only is ivory a form of investment in China, but it is also a part of cultural heritage. As a result, the government continues to support preservation of ivory in the country. This activity will trigger the high rate of elephant ivory hunting in the world, which frustrates the goal of CITES regulations. Finally, in December 2017, China claimed to have officially closed the ivory market. This article discusses what conditions drove China to close its ivory trade. This article applies a data-driven, qualitative approach. This article argues that China decided to close its ivory market to convince the world that China respects and complies with international norms, especially regarding animal protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife crimes pertaining to lesser-known species do not usually garner adequate focus or interest by enforcement and conservation agencies. Additionally, illegal wildlife trade fuelled by religious beliefs in sorcery and superstition is an oft-neglected field of research. To draw attention to these two broad issues, we provide a baseline analysis of open-source reports on Golden Jackal Canis aureus poaching and trade in India. We highlight the pervasiveness of an active local and transnational 'jackal horn' trade, which is severely under-reported and insufficiently researched. News reports and government seizure data reveal that, between 2013 and 2019, 126 skins, eight tails, more than 370 'jackal horns', 16 skulls and two live jackals have been seized. The demand for the illusionary 'jackal horn' appears to be driven by extensive online endorsement and unsubstantiated claims made by religious practitioners, targeted primarily at south Asian markets. This preliminary study is an urgent call for concerted efforts to monitor the illegal trafficking and trade of this common species, with a particular focus on the demand and supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current ecological crisis and the call to decolonise museums can be catalysts for change, manifested both physically through exhibitions or redisplays of historical collections and conceptually through new curatorial approaches or interventions. This interview examines the strategies and considerations involved in a major redisplay at the Natural History Museum, London, in 2017. Here, 'Dippy' the Diplodocus was removed from the prime central hall location, causing a furore that soon gave way to celebration of its newly installed resident 'Hope' the blue whale, heralding a new paradigm of scientific display where an anthropogenic extinction narrative took centre stage in a world-renowned museum. Alongside the blue whale, a series of 'Wonder Bays' were installed which tell stories of evolution, biodiversity and sustainability. Curators Miranda Lowe and Richard Sabin discuss these recent displays in relation to extinction narratives, public ecological awareness, ideals of authenticity and the crossover of art and science. They reflect on how the politics of natural history display extend to broader global issues, including the illegal wildlife trade and decolonising the museum, focusing on presentations of marine life and ocean ecology to reflect their principal areas of expertise and the Natural History Museum's recent ocean-themed programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, wildlife poaching results in significant losses to biodiversity, especially for species that are most vulnerable and at risk of extinction. While studies that assess the impact of poaching have been conducted, there is limited work that evaluates strategies to reduce poaching pressure, and their subsequent effects on wildlife.We develop a model to predict the effectiveness of a unique community‐led anti‐poaching patrol programme for conserving local wildlife in a biodiversity hotspot in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). Our model scenarios are based on local villagers' proposals to undertake anti‐poaching patrols. To deal with limited data availability in this region, we develop a flexible modelling framework that can incorporate a range of data sources, including expert opinion. The model can be readily altered by the user if additional data becomes available.The results predict that, without intervention, 14 out of the 19 endangered species investigated are likely to be poached to local extinction over the next 10 years. Implementing anti‐poaching patrols is predicted to protect individual animals and species in the area, although with diminishing marginal benefits as patrol‐efforts increase.Synthesis and applications. We present the first model developed in the Southeast Asia region to examine the effectiveness of community anti‐poaching patrols on protecting wildlife populations. This work is directly linked to an innovative Payments for Environmental Services programme where villagers are being paid for community‐led anti‐poaching patrols. Our model results demonstrate how different patrolling strategies can help to protect vulnerable species, and are being used to determine the payment levels for different patrolling schemes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhinoceros poaching has been recognized the world over as a conservation crisis, the result of the high price of horn and demand in Asian markets. The commitment and participation of local people in conservation activities, however, are crucial for conservation success. Here we assess attitudes and perceptions towards rhino poaching and conservation in light of surveys in two local communities adjacent to the Hlane Royal National Park in eSwatini where perhaps 100 black ( Diceros bicornis) and white ( Ceratotherium simum) rhino occur. Our survey of 60 households addressed perceptions and attitudes towards rhino conservation and willingness to participate in rhino poaching and conservation activities. No efforts have been made to involve local people in conservation activities, and the people do not benefit from the park's activities. About 20% of respondents expressed their willingness to help rhino poachers provided they are paid for their services. Of the remaining 80%, some mentioned that they would not help poachers for fear of being apprehended. Still, some mentioned that they would not help poachers because of their concern about poaching and believe its prevention is important. Park authorities here and elsewhere could invest in building better people--park relationships, and provide opportunities for local communities to participate in conservation activities. Conservation policies to co-manage the resources could be used to deter poaching and to conserve wildlife involving local community members in monitoring and enforcement strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unilateralism remains an opaque concept associated with discriminatory or coercive policy implications. Legal controversies about unilateralism have not prevented a continuing proliferation of unilateral trade measures in domestic fishery management regimes to deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The widespread application of trade leverage requires a refined study of the confluence of multilateral trade and environmental governance frameworks on novel state activism. This article probes the long-running trajectory of the US Tuna and Shrimp disputes within the cross-institutional context of the World Trade Organization, multilateral environmental agreements and regional fisheries management organizations. It aims to shed new light on the nexus between unilateral trade measures and multilateral environmental agreements as an evolving and mutually adaptive process. Inspired is the critical thinking on elevating trade and environmental partnerships to coherently monitor and discipline trade unilateralism in its indirect role to ameliorate global environmental problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal harvest (poaching) and habitat loss are two of the greatest threats to wildlife. While, in theory, protected areas can alleviate populations from these threats, they must be managed to achieve conservation goals. When faced with limited budgets, there is an inherent trade-off between acquiring property to protect against habitat loss versus spending that money to better manage the existing area. This trade-off is exacerbated by management being spread thinner, spatially, as area is acquired. To aid investment decisions between expanding versus better enforcing protected areas, we developed a general model of poaching effort and the population it threatens within a protected area (PA). From the model, we show there is a simple formula for the optimal funding ratio between expanding and better enforcing PAs. The optimal funding ratio strongly favours enforcement because it corresponds to eliminating poaching in the existing PA before expanding. The model shows that this result is general across systems. A case study parameterising the model for elephant poaching in Zambia, suggests that initial investments in reducing poaching would be more beneficial to elephant populations compared to PA expansion. The methods developed here provide useful tools for conservation managers to aid the allocation of limited conservation resources to protect populations threatened by poaching and habitat loss. Calls for expansion often assume that the PA will be managed effectively, however, this must be explicitly planned for when the target species is threatened by poaching. Funding anti-poaching efforts in the PA is at least equally important as expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Snares have become a widespread hunting technique, with their indiscriminate nature jeopardizing terrestrial large carnivores. Since the lack of reliable data on snare distribution hampers an accurate evaluation of the potential risk. Continuous winter SMART (the Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool) patrols have operated in the Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis) ranges in northeast China from 2013 to 2020 to record wildlife occurrences and remove snares. Our research aimed to assess the snares threat pose in the Amur tiger range and whether snare removal benefited roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) recovery. We modeled the spatial distribution of Amur tigers, Amur leopards, and prey species, comparing their distributions before and after anti-poaching measures. We also assessed the overlap between Amur tigers, Amur leopards, and snare locations. Additionally, we used the MaxEnt model to predict snare distribution, and then we analyzed the overlap of snares with species at different periods between 2013 and 2015 and 2018–2020. Our results showed that the probability of occurrence of ungulates increased significantly around roads after snares were removed. Furthermore, we found that Amur tigers and Amur leopards distribution overlapped with snare locations suggesting that snares pose a serious risk to these non-target species. The overlap between snares and species has the same trend as the growing with species distribution, and the least significant increase is in DHZ-XNC. Removing snares not only aids target game species but also protects sympatric large carnivores. • Assess snaring threats to Amur tiger, Amur leopard, and two main prey in a new national park. • Based on a long term patrol dataset to model snare impact on wildlife distribution. • Snares pose a serious risk to these non-target species. • Comprehending snare patterns and influenced factors is crucial for strategic wildlife management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]