An assessment of illegal hunting on farmland in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: implications for oribi (Ourebia ourebi) conservation

The oribi (Ourebia ourebi) is a small antelope listed as endangered in the South African Red Data Book. One of the reasons for its decline is illegal hunting. Poaching in South Africa appears to be increasing, and yet little is documented in terms of this. Consequently, interviews were conducted in several rural settlements near commercial farms with conservancy areas in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa, to establish information about their perceptions of illegal hunting, frequency and preferred methods of poaching, and their knowledge of conservation and the laws protecting game. Local farmers and landowners in KZN were also surveyed to gauge the effects of poaching on private land and their opinions on who is poaching and why. It appears that illegal poaching is common and therefore a real threat to indigenous wildlife. Poverty is a factor affecting the frequency of poaching by rural communities as bushmeat alleviates the lack of food, particularly protein. In addition, there is a recreational and social significance of hunting where sport/gambling and possibly cultural drivers influenced hunting activities. Interestingly the perception of landowners contrasted with this as most perceived a lack of poaching on their land. To reduce poaching and its effects, further education and alternative meat and entertainment sources will be required.