The pleasure of pursuit: recreational hunters in rural Southwest China exhibit low exit rates in response to declining catch

Abstract

Hunting is one of the greatest threats to tropical vertebrates. Examining why people hunt is crucial to identifying policy levers to prevent excessive hunting. Overhunting is particularly relevant in Southeast Asia, where a high proportion of mammals and birds are globally threatened. We interviewed hunters in Southwest China to examine their social behavior, motivations, and responses to changes in wildlife abundance. Respondents viewed hunting as a form of recreation, not as an economic livelihood, and reported that they would not stop hunting in response to marked declines in expected catch. Even in scenarios where the expected catch was limited to minimal quantities of small, low-price songbirds, up to 36.7% of respondents said they would still continue to hunt. Recreational hunting may be a prominent driver for continued hunting in increasingly defaunated landscapes; this motivation for hunting and its implications for the ecological consequences of hunting have been understudied relative to subsistence and profit hunting. The combination of a preference for larger over smaller game, reluctance to quit hunting, and weak enforcement of laws may lead to hunting-down-the-web outcomes in Southwest China.

Effects of law enforcement and community outreach on mammal diversity in a biodiversity hotspot

“…Much of the current hunting in Xishuangbanna is recreational rather than for subsistence, and hunters typically prefer large‐bodied species (Chang et al. ). But this form of hunting is a crime in China, subject to up to 10 years imprisonment, fines, and confiscation of property.…”

“…Local abundance of the large hunted mammals was positively related to the local perception of law enforcement activity in each park. Much of the current hunting in Xishuangbanna is recreational rather than for subsistence, and hunters typically prefer large-bodied species (Chang et al 2017). But this form of hunting is a crime in China, subject to up to 10 years imprisonment, fines, and confiscation of property.…”

“…But this form of hunting is a crime in China, subject to up to 10 years imprisonment, fines, and confiscation of property. Recreational hunters tend to be aware of the laws governing hunting (Chang et al 2017). So in this case, it may be that community outreach and education about resource regulations does not help curtail hunting, and only the prospect of punishment could limit the activity.…”

Should I shoot or should I go? Simple rules for prey selection in multi‐species hunting systems

“…Although there is limited insight on hunter prey selection, it is known that hunters value larger prey body mass (Chang et al. ). Yet there are major knowledge gaps impeding management in this region, including limited or no information on offtake trends over time and the status of exploited wildlife populations.…”

“…Xishuangbanna is a biodiversity hotspot where hunters target 50 or more taxa, including several charismatic species of conservation concern (e.g., gaur Bos frontalis and Green Peafowl Pavo muticus, Kai et al 2014). Although there is limited insight on hunter prey selection, it is known that hunters value larger prey body mass (Chang et al 2017). Yet there are major knowledge gaps impeding management in this region, including limited or no information on offtake trends over time and the status of exploited wildlife populations.…”