2026-10-06T17:28:41Z https://api.figshare.com/v2/oai

oai:figshare.com:article/34056465 2026-10-02T11:55:31Z category_257 portal_316 item_type_3 month_year_10_2026

Table 1_Divergent narratives: community perceptions of illegal bushmeat hunting dynamics in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem.docx Mariam R. Michael (25302210) Richard A. Giliba (17144894) George G. Lohay (25302213) Katharine E. T. Thompson (3297939) Conservation and Biodiversity bushmeat community perceptions conservation legitimacy conservation outreach programs illegal bushmeat hunting Serengeti-Mara ecosystem thematic analysis <p>Conservation outreach programs (COPs) aim to reduce illegal bushmeat hunting by providing communities with tangible benefits and fostering positive attitudes toward wildlife, but their influence is difficult to separate from law enforcement and wider social change. We compared how COPs beneficiary and non-beneficiary communities perceived and explained illegal bushmeat hunting dynamics in the Serengeti-Mara ecosystem across 2018-2024. Using a comparative mixed-methods design, we surveyed 360 households (180 per category), conducted 12 focus group discussions, and interviewed 24 key informants across 12 villages in Bunda, Serengeti, and Tarime districts. Reported species associated with illegal bushmeat hunting were mainly common and migratory ungulates, while the reported targeting of threatened species and hunting-location patterns did not differ significantly between beneficiary and non-beneficiary communities (p>0.05). Both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries reported a decline in bushmeat availability across 2018-2024, with no significant difference between groups (p>0.05). However, their explanations differed substantially. Non-beneficiaries mainly ascribed changes to enforcement pressure and fear of sanctions. In contrast, beneficiaries’ narratives combined enforcement with conservation education, and visible community benefits. These divergent narratives indicate similar perceived conservation outcomes carry different social meanings. The findings do not demonstrate that COPs caused a greater reduction in illegal bushmeat hunting, but suggest that enforcement remains important in both contexts. Furthermore equitable outreach may strengthen the legitimacy and improve livelihood conditions needed to sustain reductions in illegal bushmeat hunting over time.</p> 2026-10-02T11:55:31Z Dataset Dataset 10.3389/fcosc.2026.1901135.s001 https://figshare.com/articles/dataset/Table_1_Divergent_narratives_community_perceptions_of_illegal_bushmeat_hunting_dynamics_in_the_Serengeti-Mara_ecosystem_docx/34056465 CC BY 4.0