Wildlife crimes and the demographic characteristics of offenders in western Serengeti, Tanzania: A review of court cases 2012–2022

Wildlife crimes are significant global threat to conservation, reducing wildlife populations and threatening some species to extinction. In Tanzania, substantial efforts have been made by conservation law authorities and the government to combat these crimes by apprehending suspects and filing cases in various courts throughout the country. Understanding court decisions on wildlife cases filed can provide a broader understanding of how to enhance the current criminal investigations and prosecution system. We reviewed wildlife cases filed by conservation law authorities and registered at Serengeti District Court (SDC) for ten years from January 2012 to June 2022 to assess the wildlife crime charges, the court decisions on the cases filed, and the rudimentary demographic characteristics of the accused. We found that most cases resulted in custodial convictions or noncustodial fines. The average period of incarceration was 8 years, ranging from 6 months for illegal entry into the protected area to 30 years for possession of elephant tusks and rifles. Most court cases were filed during the dry season from June to October, and the general trend indicated a decline in cases filed from 2014 to 2022. Evidence tendered before the court indicated that wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) are the most poached species and wire snare entanglement was the most used technique to trap and catch ungulates. Furthermore, the evidence presented and the interview results indicate that poaching was not only a subsistence activity for bushmeat or economic gain, but also involved other ethnozoological aspects. Assessing the declining trend in wildlife cases and the efficacy of the new governmental antipoaching strategies and penalties will require further analysis of data from several different Tanzanian courts.