Illegal wildlife hunting is an anthropogenic threat to global fauna with a cascading detrimental effect on the ecosystems. India imposed a blanket ban on hunting of all indigenous species (except Schedule V species) in 1991 (Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 amended) yet, wildlife hunting continues in a clandestine nature. The study is aimed at addressing three key issues: (i) drivers of illegal hunting, hunting practices, and trends in illegal hunting in the last decade; (ii) reasons for the dependence of local communities on protected areas; and (iii) awareness of the law among the local communities, through the lens of frontline-forest staff. An exploratory analysis is presented by surveying 415 forest guards. The results highlight (i) rising threat of retaliation hunting especially using electrical wires and snares, (ii) a perceived decline in illegal hunting trends in the last decade, (iii) dependence of local communities on firewood and non-timber forest produce, and (iv) there is awareness about the wildlife laws and policies at the grass-root level. This research provides insights for harnessing the knowledge of the forest guards for improving conservation strategies of protected areas, especially in the Tiger Landscapes of India.

非法狩猎野生动物是对全球动物群的人为威胁，对生态系统产生连锁不利影响。印度于 1991 年全面禁止狩猎所有本土物种（附表 V 物种除外）（《野生动物（保护）法》，1972 年修订），但野生动物狩猎仍处于秘密性质。该研究旨在解决三个关键问题：(i) 非法狩猎的驱动因素、狩猎行为以及过去十年非法狩猎的趋势；(ii) 当地社区依赖保护区的原因；(iii) 通过前线森林工作人员的视角，当地社区对法律的认识。通过调查 415 名护林员进行了探索性分析。结果突出显示 (i) 报复性狩猎的威胁日益增加，尤其是使用电线和圈套，(ii) 过去十年非法狩猎趋势明显下降，(iii) 当地社区对木柴和非木材森林产品的依赖，以及 (iv) 对基层野生动物法律和政策的认识. 这项研究为利用森林卫士的知识改进保护区的保护策略提供了见解，特别是在印度的老虎景观中。