Abstract Illegal bushmeat hunting of economically and ecologically valuable wildlife populations is emerging as a threat across African savannas. Due to the cryptic nature of illegal hunting, little information exists on the drivers of the bushmeat industry. Here we report on the socioeconomic drivers identified in a broader investigation into illegal bushmeat hunting in rural villages around a southern African savanna ecosystem, the Okavango Delta, Botswana. We conducted interviews with bushmeat hunters and heads of rural households about hunting activities, rural livelihoods, attitudes towards wildlife, and market characteristics of illegal bushmeat. Using generalized linear models, we identified and investigated a set of independent variables that characterize illegal-hunter households. Results revealed that compared to non-hunter households, illegal hunter households (n = 119, 25% of the sample) lived in closer proximity to wildlife, were more likely to farm crops, and more often received income from formal employment by at least one household member. Bushmeat hunting was positively correlated with livestock wealth but not associated with household income. Only 11.4% (n = 44) of non-hunter households reported purchasing bushmeat. Most households (84%) reported incurring costs associated with living near wildlife (e.g., damages to crops or livestock), with no difference between hunter and non-hunter households. Hunters were more likely to say they valued wildlife. We conclude that bushmeat hunting in Botswana is generally supplemental to household core income sources rather than essential for subsistence. We propose two interventions to counter the negative impacts of illegal hunting on the region's lucrative wildlife-based economy: 1) more effective law enforcement that imposes costs for hunting illegally, and 2) development of alternative wildlife-based revenue streams that motivate communities to conserve wildlife.

中文翻译：

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在南部非洲大草原非法狩猎丛林肉的社会经济驱动因素

摘要 非法猎杀具有经济和生态价值的野生动物种群正在成为整个非洲大草原的威胁。由于非法狩猎的隐秘性质，关于丛林肉产业驱动因素的信息很少。在这里，我们报告了在博茨瓦纳奥卡万戈三角洲南部非洲热带稀树草原生态系统周围乡村进行的非法丛林肉狩猎的更广泛调查中确定的社会经济驱动因素。我们就狩猎活动、农村生计、对野生动物的态度以及非法丛林肉的市场特征对丛林肉猎人和农村户主进行了采访。使用广义线性模型，我们确定并调查了一组表征非法狩猎家庭的自变量。结果显示，与非猎人家庭相比，非法狩猎家庭（n = 119，占样本的 25%）住在离野生动物更近的地方，更有可能种植庄稼，并且更经常从至少一名家庭成员的正式就业中获得收入。丛林肉狩猎与牲畜财富呈正相关，但与家庭收入无关。只有 11.4% (n = 44) 的非狩猎家庭报告购买了丛林肉。大多数家庭 (84%) 报告称，在野生动物附近生活会产生相关费用（例如，对农作物或牲畜的损害），狩猎家庭和非狩猎家庭之间没有区别。猎人更有可能说他们珍视野生动物。我们得出的结论是，博茨瓦纳的丛林肉狩猎通常是对家庭核心收入来源的补充，而不是维持生计所必需的。