Acceptability of shooting at suspected criminals in protected areas

Using military-type strategies and equipment to conserve wildlife, also known as militarised conservation, is a highly contested approach. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), one acutely controversial aspect of militarised conservation is when armed rangers shoot at suspected criminals inside protected and conserved areas (PCAs). We quantified perceptions among members of eight international publics on the acceptability of this particularly contentious aspect of militarised conservation, testing whether acceptability depended on the specific crime rangers suspect people of committing. Overall, the acceptability of rangers shooting at suspected criminals inside PCAs in SSA was low across all eight publics, but acceptability was generally higher among participants living further away from PCAs in SSA than those living closer to PCAs in SSA. Shooting in self-defence and to prevent poaching were consistently most acceptable across all eight publics. Our findings contribute new comparative evidence about international public perceptions of a very sensitive aspect of PCA management in SSA. This evidence may be useful to decision-makers balancing competing pressures to protect biodiversity, respect local values, and operate with legitimacy in an international context. Our findings are especially relevant in light of international aspirations to simultaneously increase PCAs while respecting the rights and interests of people living in high-biodiversity areas.

Originally published in Conservation Letters, Volume 18, Issue 4 on 4 July 2025