Despite the nonstop anti-poaching campaigns over the past two decades, the incidence of poaching wildebeest has increased in recent years. Current estimates are between 50,000 and 70,000 annually. Most of the toll is taken when the wildebeest are outside the protection of the Serengeti National Park.
The poachers are predominately from local tribes that live on the western boundary of the park. For centuries tribes in the region used poisoned arrows and spears to kill animals to feed themselves just as the American Indians killed the bison. However, more recently, the meat has also become part of the cash economy and more efficient methods of killing more animals at one time are employed. While some still kill in the traditional way, steel cable wire snares are more deadly and effective and used more frequently.
The pastoral [P 021 / Masai], who live east of the park and north of the Masai Mara Game Reserve, rarely participate in poaching activities despite the fact the wildebeest deplete some of the pastures they use to graze their [P 009 / cattle].
