Subsistence hunting is a key activity for indigenous Amazonian people. Traditional Tsimane’ bow hunting was strongly affected by the introduction of firearms over 30 years ago. Tsimane’ of Bolivia maintain traditional hunting techniques with bows and arrows, sometimes in conjunction with modern firearms. This study explores Tsimane' perceived costs and benefits of bow- versus gun-hunting. We consider cultural conservation in addition to factors typical in ecological comparisons of traditional and introduced hunting technologies. Firearms are expensive and less reliable than bows and arrows. Costs of purchasing firearms requires market engagement and surplus production to generate cash. Tsimane’ do not identify overhunting as one of the costs of firearms; though multiple studies show reduced game populations in areas under moderate to intense gun-hunting pressure. In sum, Tsimane’ identify multiple benefits to traditional hunting technology, while firearms have a strong effect of the loss of knowledge regarding fabrication of bows and arrows, and present a challenge to Tsimane’ cultural identity as bow-hunters.

中文翻译：

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枪支对玻利维亚亚马孙地区Tsimane狩猎和传统知识的影响

生计狩猎是亚马逊土著人民的一项关键活动。30年前，传统的Tsimane弓箭狩猎受到了枪支的强烈影响。玻利维亚的Tsimane'保留了传统的弓箭狩猎技术，有时还结合了现代枪支。这项研究探讨了Tsimane的弓箭和猎枪的成本和收益。除了传统和引进狩猎技术的生态比较中的典型因素外，我们还考虑文化保护。枪械价格昂贵，可靠性不如弓箭。购买枪支的成本需要市场参与和剩余生产才能产生现金。Tsimane'并未将过度猎杀视为枪支的成本之一；尽管多项研究表明，在中等至强烈的猎枪压力下，游戏人口减少了。总而言之，Tsimane识别了传统狩猎技术的多种好处，而枪支却严重丧失了制作弓箭的知识，并给Tsimane的弓箭猎人的文化特征带来了挑战。