“All I came out with were scars and wounds”: how a reformed poacher is helping reduce illegal wild meat trade

I regret having wasted my time on something that has no value to me.  I hunted for over 15 years. I saw one of my friends killed by a buffalo. But I couldn’t even afford to buy a jacket. All I came out with were scars and wounds. It hurts me so mucH."

Constantiono Martin, a former poacher in Tanzania.

It was after a friend was arrested and shown pictures of Tanzania’s most wanted poachers, including Constantiono himself, that he resolved to change. I decided to turn myself in to stay safe. Because I wasn’t born to be a poacher. Now I have a welding garage. I make beds, gates, all kinds of metal things.

“Society has started to have trust in me. The energy I used on hunting, I now use to serve the community. I am even a member of the purchasing committee for the district hospital.”

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Constantiono is keen to share his story to discourage others from poaching. It’s part of TRAFFIC’s work to reduce demand for illegal wild meat in the Kwakuchinja Wildlife Corridor (KWC) of Tanzania. It’s been a big success, leading to a significant reduction in illegal hunting, and much higher awareness around the dangers of handling and eating illegally sourced wild meat.

In 2019 the Tanzanian Government pioneered a new trade model for sustainable wild meat - the Game Meat Selling Regulations (GMSR). In just one year, it rolled out an ambitious suite of regulations to address the poaching crisis and ensure ordinary people could benefit from sustainable, safe and legally caught wild meat.

During this short time, the legislative landscape of domestic wild meat trade radically changed. But effective implementation and public awareness did not keep up pace. However, the success of TRAFFIC’s recent behaviour change campaign has shown how real progress can be made to reduce demand for poached meat – even in communities which have always traditionally hunted and eaten wild meat.

The Kwakuchinja Wildlife Corridor is a critical link between two national parks - Tarangire and Lake Manyara – facing increasing threats from illegal hunting and wild meat consumption driven by socio-economic factors like poverty, food insecurity and cultural preferences for wild meat.

The demand reduction campaign in KWC was delivered via local organisations, Community Support Initiatives Tanzania (COSITA) and ABC Bros, through a variety of activities including:

• Workshops and engagement with women in 15 villages, via village community banking groups, places of worship, women’s associations and community gatherings. Approximately 1,230 women were reached.
• Alternative livelihoods as a way to reduce reliance on illegal wildlife products, including bead-making and vegetable farming. Food-cooking bonanzas showcased affordable, nutritious alternatives to wild meat. These activities reached 180 women across six villages.
• Visual reinforcement of messages on the risks of poaching and wild meat consumption was achieved through more than 3,200 posters at schools, hospitals and community buildings, reaching a population of 227,585 people.
• A radio outreach campaign on Radio Manyara FM and Orkonerei FM, reaching about 112,211 communities within and adjacent to KWC through 12 radio talk shows and 168 radio spots. The shows were broadcast in Swahili and Maasai and contained information on the risks of illegal poaching and wild meat eating, safe meat sources and alternative livelihoods.

This was a really effective campaign for changing long-held beliefs and traditional behaviour in local communities. The team focussed on a range of techniques to engage with local people, taking into account lifestyle, habits and cultural norms. The results show an increaseD awareness of the dangers of hunting and eating illegal wild meat, but also a move towards choosing safe and sustainable meat instead – benefitting Tanzania’s wildlife and people.”

Mikala Lauridsen, TRAFFIC East Africa Director

A formal evaluation at the end of the Demand Reduction programme found that the campaign included the following outcomes:

• The campaign shifted consumer attitudes away from illegal wild meat consumption, with 99% of respondents reporting never consuming any wild meat (legal or illegal) in the past 12 months even if legal wild meat is available.
• Increased awareness of health risks associated with wild meat shifted community attitudes away from previous misconceptions about its safety and medicinal properties.
• 76% of the surveyed respondents reported that community members who received the training are transitioning to alternative livelihoods such as tourism activities, metal fabrication, a motorcycle taxi business, food stalls, and small-scale enterprises.
• Women gained confidence and skills through targeted training, enhancing their ability to advocate against illegal wild meat harvesting and engage in business activities.