South African conversation crime and routine activities theory : a casual nexus?

Abstract

The recent wholesale slaughter of rhinos in South Africa has unceremoniously thrust conservation crime into the news. Not only is the wanton massacre of these animals abhorrent in itself, but it becomes even more so when one considers that they are generally being decimated on managed protected areas and nature reserves. During 2010, for example, 333 rhinos were poached across South Africa, 146 of them from within the precincts of the Kruger National Park, South Africa’s premier wildlife conservation area. By April 2011 South Africa lost a further 114 rhinos to poaching and current estimates are that we will on average be losing one rhino per day. Conservation law violations encompass many offences against the natural environment, a common one being wildlife poaching. Previous research has often described the extent and impact of poaching as well offender behaviour. While it has indisputably contributed to an understanding of this crime phenomenon and what motivates poachers, more research is needed to examine why protected conservation areas are so easily penetrated and wildlife populations victimised on a regular basis. Theory-based studies focusing on all the elements of a crime should add to the understanding of poaching. This qualitative enquiry examines the efficacy of Routine Activities Theory to explain poaching on protected conservation areas in South Africa. Data collected at conservation areas threatened by poaching were analysed by means of the theory. Wildlife custodianship problems were identified with a view to both developing a framework for understanding the challenges being faced in this arena and empowering policy makers to more resourcefully initiate intervention strategies and control illegal hunting on these conservation areas.