Illegal
hunting in the Serengeti ecosystem, Tanzania: social and molecular genetic
methods of combating crimes against fauna
December 2012. Tanzania's many and diverse wildlife populations are under threat
from illegal hunting, and large herbivores are particularly sought-after game.
In the future, however, genetic markers can be used to identify meat from game
in order to combat crimes against animals.
Difficulty
of prosecution
Even though the battle against illegal hunting has intensified, poachers are
still very active. Attempts to put a stop to this kind of hunting are hampered
by a defective judicial system and by problems associated with finding
sufficient evidence so that the offenders can be prosecuted.
Stella
Bitanyi, of Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, has developed molecular
genetic methods of identifying species of wild herbivores in Serengeti in
Tanzania. Most of the herbivores that are attractive as game or bushmeat for
poachers in this area were included in Bitanyi's study and this genetic tool
can now be used for monitoring and estimating wildlife populations and for
acquiring technical evidence in crime cases against wildlife both in Tanzania
and in other parts of the world.
Meat
from protected species on sale, including elephant
The efficacy of the genetic methods was validated by testing them on known
species, which then functioned as references for the identification of bushmeat
on offer at local markets. The findings of the study also provide important
information about the extent of poaching, particularly in view of the fact that
the bushmeat tested came from areas where hunting is strictly forbidden. Meat
from many different species was on sale and also meat from protected species
which are important both for Tanzania and for the international community, as
for example the giraffe and the elephant. Other species, such as the buffalo,
are so overexploited that they are in danger of becoming extinct in Serengeti.
Posts
