Research overview: the economics of poaching and deterrence

Understanding why people poach, and what deters them, is essential to designing effective anti-poaching strategy. This overview surveys research on the economics and behavior of poaching, examining the incentives, livelihoods, and risk calculations that drive participation in the killing and trafficking of big cats and their prey. Studies analyze how poverty, prices in end markets, the probability of detection, and penalties shape decisions, and whether enforcement, alternative livelihoods, or demand reduction most effectively reduce poaching. Researchers debate the balance between deterrence through enforcement and addressing underlying drivers, and the risk that harsh enforcement alone can alienate communities. The overview frames poaching as a socioeconomic as well as a security problem, arguing that durable solutions require shifting incentives rather than relying solely on interdiction. It matters because anti-poaching that ignores the motivations of those involved is unlikely to succeed over the long term.