Tropical Ecology 55(1): 119-127, 2014 ISSN 0564-3295 © International Society for Tropical Ecology www.tropecol.com Law enforcement staff perceptions of illegal hunting and wildlife conservation in Gonarezhou National Park, southeastern Zimbabwe EDSON GANDIWA 1* , PATIENCE ZISADZA-GANDIWA 1 , LOVEMORE MANGO 2 & JOSEPHY JAKARASI 2 1 Scientific Services, Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Private Bag 7003, Chiredzi, Zimbabwe 2 Department of Environmental Science, Bindura University of Science Education, Private Bag 1020, Bindura, Zimbabwe Abstract: Globally, pressure from the illegal harvesting of wildlife is a recurrent issue for protected area management. In order to ensure the effective conservation of wildlife resources, law enforcement has been identified as one of the most important components of protected area management. Our study aimed at addressing the following two research questions: (1) what are the perceptions of law enforcement staff in Gonarezhou National Park (GNP), Zimbabwe, about illegal hunting practices, illegal hunter’s characteristics, wild animals commonly targeted and trends of poaching in the park; and, (2) what are the suggestions for reducing illegal hunting and enhancing wildlife conservation in GNP ecosystem? Data were collected using a semi- structured questionnaire administered through interviews from 42 law enforcement staff representing 47 % of the total law enforcement staff in GNP from February to May 2011. Our results showed that 76 % (n = 32) of the patrol rangers perceived that most illegal hunters were between 21 and 30 years. Nearly all respondents (95 %; n = 40) reported that most poachers were residents of villages situated within 20 km from the boundary of GNP. Medium to large wild herbivores were reportedly the most illegally animal hunted species whilst large carnivores were the least illegally hunted animals. Most of the respondents (79 %, n = 33) perceived that poaching activities had declined in GNP ecosystem between 2005 and 2010 due to an increase in arrests. Increasing conservation awareness and education in adjacent communal areas would help to further reduce illegal hunting and promote wildlife conservation. Resumen: En todo el mundo, la presión ejercida por la cosecha ilegal de vida silvestre es un tema recurrente para el manejo de áreas protegidas. A fin de asegurar la conservación efectiva de los recursos de vida silvestre, la aplicación de la ley ha sido identificada como uno de los componentes más importantes del manejo de áreas protegidas. Nuestro estudio abordó las dos siguientes preguntas de investigación: (1) ¿cuáles son las percepciones del personal encargado de aplicar la ley en el Parque Nacional Gonarezhou (PNG), Zimbabue, acerca de las prácticas de cacería ilegal, las características del cazadores ilegales, los animales salvajes que son buscados comúnmente y las tendencias de la cacería furtiva en el parque; y (2) ¿qué sugerencias tienen para reducir la cacería ilegal y promover la conservación de la vida silvestre en el ecosistema del GNP? La obtención de datos se hizo usando un cuestionario semiestructurado administrado por medio de entrevistas a 42 miembros del personal encargado de aplicar la ley, quienes representaron 47 % del todo el personal con este cargo en el GNP, de febrero a mayo de 2011. Nuestros resultados mostraron que 76 % (n = 32) de los guardias de vigilancia percibieron que la mayoría de los cazadores ilegales tenían edades entre 21 y 30 años. Casi todos los * Corresponding Author; e-mail: mailto:egandiwa@gmail.com Present Address: Edson Gandiwa, Department of Wildlife and Safari Management, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Private Bag 7724, Chnhoyi, Zimbabwe.