An investigation into the environmental factors influencing elephant poaching and poaching hotspots in RIFA, Hurungwe Safari Area, Mid- Zambezi Region, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe.
factors influencing elephant poaching and poaching hotspots
Keywords:
boundary, monitored, collared, hotspot, elephant poaching, vegetation coverAbstract
This study investigates the environmental factors influencing elephant (Loxodonta Africana) poaching and poaching hotspots in RIFA, Hurungwe Safari Area, Mid- Zambezi Region, Mashonaland West, Zimbabwe. Using data collected during ranger patrols (local, extended, strategic and aerial patrols) and secondary data sources (reports) were also used from 2018 to 2022 for poaching statistics while elephant collar data was obtained from 09 collared matriarchs that were being monitored over the same period. The research also examines the elephant poaching hotspot, the relationship between elephant poaching and seasonal distribution, boundary, rivers, boreholes, roads and vegetation cover using Arcgis 10.3 tools. The results show a significant relationship between dry season elephant distribution and poaching of elephants, also a strong relationship between boundary, rivers and poaching of elephants and no relationship between roads, boreholes and poaching of elephants. The results also shows that the elephant poaching hotspots is in the north western of Rifa which is near to the mighty Zambezi River and also the boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe. This study concludes that boundary, rivers and dry season as main drivers of elephant poaching in Rifa area. These finding highly recommends the wildlife managers to increase patrol in the North western area of Rifa and also increase the border patrols.
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