Community knowledge, attitudes, practices and factors promoting the use of wire snares in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

Abstract

Wire snaring remains one of the most prevalent and destructive poaching methods in Queen Elizabeth National Park (QENP), Uganda, yet the underlying socio-economic and cultural factors sustaining its persistence are not well understood. This study assessed community knowledge, attitudes, practices, and determinants influencing the use of wire snares in QENP. A cross-sectional design employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches was used. Data were collected from 96 randomly selected households through structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression in STATA version 14.2, while qualitative data were thematically analyzed. Findings revealed that 94.8% of respondents were knowledgeable about wire snaring, and 79.2% knew how to set snares, yet 25.5% had participated in snare poaching. Although 67.7% of respondents expressed disapproval of wire snaring, the practice persisted primarily due to livelihood pressures and cultural traditions. Significant predictors of snare poaching included proximity to the park boundary (<10 km; p = 0.013), communal or private land tenure (p = 0.016), farming as a main livelihood (p = 0.028), hunting background (p = 0.043), and partial support for poaching (p = 0.020). The main motivations for snaring were commercial gain (45.3%) and household consumption (31.8%), with buffaloes and antelopes being the most frequently snared species. The study concludes that wire snaring in QENP is not driven by ignorance but by socioeconomic necessity, cultural practices, and weak law enforcement. Addressing this challenge requires a multifaceted approach integrating livelihood diversification, equitable benefit-sharing, strengthened community-based conservation, and enhanced enforcement capacity. Sustainable conservation in QENP will depend on empowering local communities through participatory management and reducing their economic dependence on wildlife resources.