Local opinions on trophy hunting in Kyrgyzstan

As traditional international trophy hunting destinations are becoming less accessible due to hunting restrictions and regulations, new destinations are entering the scene, such as the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, located in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan has grown to be one of the top destinations for international trophy hunting of argali Ovis ammon and ibex Capra sibirica, both of which are in danger of extinction. Empirically, the article draws on a case study from the largest region in Kyrgyzstan, At-Bashy, and 395 questionnaires with local inhabitants from 5 villages, and 1 interview with an international trophy hunting tour operator. In this article, the impacts of trophy hunting as a tourism practice in a rural context is discussed in terms of its sustainability and through the opinions of the local inhabitants. In sum, the negative impacts of trophy hunting in At-Bashy seem to overrule the positive ones, and in its current form it is not sustainable. The local inhabitants report about a decrease in argali and ibex during the last years; they receive basically no economic benefits from hunting tourism; and not surprisingly, 70% of the population rejects the further development of the industry in its current shape.     

Age of first hunting experience: Results from a nationwide recreation survey

Abstract

Hunting participation, as indicated in the 1983 Nationwide Recreation Survey, is examined to determine the relationship between age of first hunting experience and adult level of participation. A statistically significant association between these two variables is found. In addition, more than 83 percent of those who hunt began their involvement by 18 years of age. The findings have implications for future hunting participation and the provision of programs for hunters.     

Announcements

Abstract

In this study we examined the effect of specialization on behavioral choice among Wisconsin goose hunters, who were able to choose a relatively easy hunt at the Horicon Marsh or a more complex hunt in the exterior zones. Past research has shown that more specialized recreationists have differing motives, attitudes, satisfaction levels, crowding perceptions, environmental preferences, and management preferences. Our goal in this study was to extend this research to behavioral choices and to learn more about the dimensions of specialization in goose hunting. Specialization did not predict behavioral choice among the sample. Specialization, as measured by past experience, commitment, media involvement, club membership, and preferred hunting style, did not differ significantly when comparing Horicon goose hunters and exterior zone hunters. Novice hunters hunted alongside experienced hunters, and behavioral choice appeared to be more a function of structural constraint than attitu‐dinal preference. Specialization did explain differences in hunter judgments of quality, correlating negatively with shooting and bagging and positively with social and natural components of a quality experience. These findings indicate that although the specialization framework can effectively predict attitudinal differences among participants in a given activity, it is less efficient at predicting behavioral choice. Consequently, specialization researchers need to be cautious about inferring levels of specialization from observations of locational choice.     

Threatened Species as Public Goods and Public Bads

This paper discusses Pareto efficient allocations of an environmental commodity, which is both a public good and a public bad, with an application to the Scandinavian problem of conserving wild predators that are killing semi-domesticated reindeer. The paper begins by briefly outlining this conflict. This is followed by a theoretical analysis employing a diagrammatic tool called the Kolm triangle, which is an analogue of an Edgeworth box in an economy with a public good. Bargaining, Pareto improving reallocations and the shape of the Pareto set are discussed, using a simple model, where one of the agents is involountarily contributing to a public good. The paper concludes with an analysis of income-loss compensations and incentives for illegal hunting of predators.     

Estimating the economic value of big game habitat production from prescribed fire using a time series approach

This paper demonstrates a time-series production technique to quantify the deer harvest and deer hunting benefits of controlled burns or prescribed fire. The time series regression model showed a statistically significant and positive effect of prescribed fire on deer harvest. The net economic value of the resulting additional deer hunting benefit was estimated using the Contingent Valuation Method at $ 98 per additional deer harvested. The initial deer hunting benefits of an additional 1,000 acres of prescribed burning are between $ 2,674 and $ 3,128 or $ 2-3 per acre. The costs of prescribed burning greatly exceed these benefits, suggesting that deer hunting benefits represent only a small part of the multiple use benefits of prescribed fire.     

Neo-colonialism and greed: Africans’ views on trophy hunting in social media

Existing studies on the trophy hunting controversy in recent years have largely represented the anti-hunting views of the Western public, while overlooking the opinions of African people. This study taps into Africans’ social media narratives to illuminate the racially, politically, and historically charged context in which trophy hunting occurs in Africa. Data were collected from the Facebook pages of three major social media players with a predominantly African followership, namely, BBC News Africa, News24.com, and NewsDay-Zimbabwe. The dominant pattern was resentment towards what was viewed as the neo-colonial character of trophy hunting, in the way it privileges Western elites in accessing Africa’s wildlife resources. However, the West’s passionate criticism of violence against animals was viewed by participants as overblown, and as evidence of their (Westerners') higher regard for animals than for African people. Interestingly, trophy hunting was not objectionable from an animal rights perspective, but as a consequence of its complex historical and postcolonial associations. In addition, criticism was directed at African politicians who were perceived as allowing wildlife exploitation to satisfy their own greed. In this instance, far from tourism being a facilitator of intercultural understanding and peace, it appears to reproduce images and wounds of a colonial past.     

Factors associated with hunter retrieval of deer hit by arrows and shotgun slugs

Abstract

Hunter retrieval of wounded deer was used as a case study to examine applications and limitations of leisure research for the management of recreational behavior. All hunters receiving permits to hunt in the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge during November 1–20, 1983, were sent mail questionnaires. A total of 457 (93 percent) of the archery and 143 (95 percent) of the firearm permittees responded after 3 mailings. Archery deer hunters were estimated to have retrieved 29 (43 percent) of the 68 different deer hit by arrows. Shotgun hunters were estimated to have retrieved 42 (81 percent) of 52 different deer hit. Discriminant analysis showed that the retrieval of deer hit with arrows was most likely when the shooter had tagged a large number of deer during former archery hunts, when the deer was hit in a position other than broadside, and when the range of the shot was short. Deer hit with slugs were more likely to be retrieved when hit by hunters with little experience in tagging deer during former firearm hunts, when the shooter also hunted deer with a bow and arrow, and when the shot was taken at deer that were not running. These data were interpreted to suggest how retrieval rates might be increased through regulation, education, and management of the recreational environment. The role of leisure research and theory in providing techniques and a rationale for modifying the behavior of recreationists is discussed.     

殷墟甲骨刻辞与商代旅游史的建构

前贤研究商代旅游,所据的史料大抵不出传世文献的范围,然传世文献中商代旅游史料甚为了了,所以,前贤修撰的中国旅游史中的殷商部分总是语焉不详.其实,要研究上古旅游,应该把收集史料的重点放在地下,研究商代旅游,应该以地下出土的甲骨刻辞为中心.据笔者调查,殷墟甲骨刻辞有旅游刻辞七千余片,完全可以借此修撰一部商代旅游专史.     

What Does it Mean to be Human? A Comparison of Primate Economies

Synopsis: Since the beginning of serious field studies of nonhuman primates in the early 1930s, many primatologists have been arguing that humans and their simian cousins differ much less than commonly believed. Little systematic attention, however, has focused on the degree to which the foraging economies of human and nonhuman primates are similar or different. Using a comparative method I investigate consumption, organization of production (including technology), distribution, and property relations. Humans and nonhuman primates differ in their division of labor, food distribution, the use of special tools and techniques, and possessing a home base. More importantly, the economic activities of humans, unlike monkeys and apes, are structured through economic institutions, which are mutable. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

论破坏国家重点保护野生动物资源的犯罪

《野生动物保护法》将珍贵、濒危野生动物列为国家重点保护的野生动物 ,并规定了管理、保护制度。 1 997年《刑法》新增了非法猎捕、杀害珍贵、濒危野生动物罪和非法收购、运输、出售珍贵、濒危野生动物、珍贵、濒危野生动物制品罪 ,从而完善了我国对野生动物的法律保护体系。本文就两个罪名的法律构成 ,以及司法实践中的有关问题展开讨论。