Peasant farmer–raptor conflicts around Chembe Bird Sanctuary, Zambia, Central Africa: poultry predation, ethno–biology, land use practices and conservation

Abstract

Peasant farmer-raptor conflicts around Chembe Bird Sanctuary, Zambia, Central Africa: poultry predation, ethnobiology, land use practices and conservation.-Raptors provide ecosystem services to African rural communities by:(1) preying on rodents, (2) regulating harmful snake populations, (3) shaping cultural beliefs, and (4) being part of tourist attractions. Peasant farmers, however, connect them with poultry depletion, telepathic omens, and traditional witchcraft. Consequently, raptors suffer human-induced persecution. Using a qualitative content analysis technique, we investigated the interaction between farmers and raptors in areas adjoining the Chembe Bird Sanctuary. Our results unravel negative perceptions, attitudes and practices that could threaten the extinction of five raptors in the study area. We propose the use of transformative cognitive measures (e.g., raising stakeholder awareness, ensuring stringent law enforcement for raptors and protecting their habitat, and strengthening relational social capital) and physical measures (e.g., providing appropriate fencing and poultry breeding of high resilient phenotypes) to improve the co-existence between farmers and raptors. ResumenLos conflictos entre campesinos y rapaces alrededor del refugio de Chembe Bird, en Zambia, África central: depredación de aves de corral, etnobiología, prácticas de uso de la tierra y conservación.-Las rapaces prestan servicios ecosistémicos a las comunidades rurales de África: (1) depredando roedores, (2) regulando las poblaciones de serpientes dañinas, (3) configurando las creencias culturales y (4) formando parte de las atracciones turísticas. Sin embargo, los campesinos las relacionan con la disminución de las aves de corral, las profecías telepáticas y la brujería tradicional. En consecuencia, las rapaces son perseguidas por los humanos. Mediante una técnica de análisis cualitativo de contenido, analizamos la interacción entre los campesinos y las rapaces en zonas adyacentes al refugio de Chembe Bird. Nuestros resultados revelan las prácticas, actitudes y percepciones negativas que podrían poner en peligro de extinción a cinco rapaces en la zona de estudio. A fin de mejorar la coexistencia entre agricultores y rapaces, proponemos utilizar medidas transformadoras de carácter conceptual (por ejemplo, sensibilizar a las partes interesadas, garantizar el cumplimiento riguroso de la legislación relativa a las rapaces y proteger su hábitat, así como reforzar el capital social relacional) y medidas prácticas (como proporcionar cercados apropiados y aves de corral de fenotipos de alta resistencia).Palabras clave: Sistema socioecológico, Participación de partes interesadas, Conocimiento técnico-ecológico, Contramedidas en las explotaciones agrícolas, Servicios ecosistémicos

Influences of seasons and dietary composition on diurnal raptor habitat use in Chembe Bird Sanctuary, Zambia: Implications for conservation

“…Among the numerous avifauna that exist in the Sanctuary, there are three notable diurnal raptors: black kites ( Milvus milvus ), steppe buzzards ( Buteo vulpinus ) and African fish eagles ( Haliaeetus vocifer) . The Sanctuary also has nocturnal raptors such as barn owls ( Tyto alba ), spotted eagle owls ( Bubo africanus ) and giant eagle owls ( Bubo lacteus ; Nyirenda et al., 2017). Other fauna include reptiles such as Nile crocodiles ( Crocodylus niloticus) and three introduced tortoise species: leopard tortoises ( Stigmochelys pardalis ), pancake tortoises ( Malacochersus tornierii ) and Bell's hinged back tortoises ( Kinixys belliana ).…”

“…Forest fragmentation by anthropogenic activities such as infrastructure developments, agriculture and charcoal burning reduces preferred habitats for the raptors. There are also other forms of ecological traps in seemingly suitable habitats that include anthropogenic killings and trappings (Nyirenda, Musonda, Kambole, & Tembo, 2017;Romulo, Livia, Maine, Washington, & Luiz, 2009), road kills (Jaarsma, Van Langevelde, & Botma, 2006), poisoning through exposure to toxic substances and pathogens (Blanco et al., 2007;Henny & Elliott, 2007;Rodríguez, Rodríguez, Siverio, & Siverio, 2010) and electrocution on power lines (Harness, 2007;Tavecchia, Adrover, Minoz, & Pradel, 2012).…”

“…Being vertebrate top predators, raptors have important ecological functions, such as regulating meso‐predator species such as snakes in the ecosystem (Estes, 2011). However, they may also prey on organisms highly valued by humans, such as fish and poultry, which usually lead to human–raptor conflicts (Nyirenda et al., 2017). Depletion of these socio‐economic commodities creates competition for food between humans and raptors.…”

“…Although some raptors may assist farmers manage pest rodents that destroy field crops and harvested food in human‐dominated landscapes, they are persecuted (Kopij, Symes, & Bruyns, 2014). The raptors in Chembe area are not fully appreciated by the local residents (Nyirenda et al., 2017). Thus, hostility towards the avian populations suggests a role for citizen participation to help effectively resolve human–raptor conflicts in human–wildlife interfaces (Canavelli, Branch, Cavallero, Gonzalez, & Zaccagnini, 2014;Treves, Wallace, & White, 2009), based on shared research and practices (Hogg et al., 2017).…”

Conservation Letter: Raptor Persecution

“…Because the reasons behind raptor persecution vary across locations, and are shaped by the cultural and historic conditions within locations, no single conservation strategy will suffice. A multi-tiered strategy involving community education and outreach, enforcement of environmental laws, and eco-nomic incentives will likely be necessary to curb raptor persecution globally (Dalvi et al 2013, Nyirenda et al 2017. For example, effective curtailment of persecution for profit may require a different mechanism than persecution for cultural reasons.…”