Assessing the local community awareness on the poaching problem in Queen Elizabeth National Park in Western Uganda

Abstract

Poaching is still a major challenge to global efforts to conserve wildlife, including in protected regions like Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP). The continuation of illicit hunting operations in spite of strong anti-poaching efforts indicates that it is important to comprehend the attitudes and awareness of the local community regarding this problem. The purpose of this study was to assess the communities' awareness of poaching problem in QENP, the specific objectives were To evaluate the perceived causes of poaching among the local communities, To assess the factors considered by the local communities to influence the success or failure of anti- poaching efforts and To assess the perception of local communities on how poaching can be minimized. A cross-sectional survey was utilized to collect all available data where 70 respondents were chosen for this study. Focus groups and in-depth interviews with key informants, such as local authorities, and representatives of community-based organizations were used to collect qualitative data. The results show that the local community's awareness and knowledge of poaching varies. Even while the majority of respondents agreed that poaching occurred in QENP, there were still a lot of unanswered questions about how much it affected wildlife populations and the environment as a whole. While many participants voiced worry about the detrimental consequences of poaching on tourism and local economies, a sizable portion also mentioned that they were not actively involved in conservation efforts. Cultural values, financial reliance, and restricted educational opportunities were found to be important determinants of community perceptions of poaching. The report emphasizes how intricate the poaching issue is when viewed from a socioeconomic angle. The findings imply that although poaching is well known, more has to be done in terms of education and community involvement initiatives in order to promote a more thorough knowledge of the issue and active participation in conservation efforts. For conservation programs in QENP to be successful, measuring local community awareness is essential. The study emphasizes how crucial it is to combine conventional conservation techniques with community-based measures to foster a more unified and encouraging environment for the protection of animals. Stronger partnerships between local communities and conservation authorities can be formed by raising awareness, educating the public, and encouraging involvement. This will eventually reduce poaching and protect Queen Elizabeth National Park's biodiversity.