Firearms efects on Tsimane' huntng and traditonal knowledge in Bolivian Amazonia

Abstract

Subsistence huntng is a key actvity for indigenous Amazonian people. Traditonal Tsimane' bow huntng was strongly afected by the introducton of frearms over 30 years ago. Tsimane' of Bolivia maintain traditonal huntng techniques with bows and arrows, sometmes in conjuncton with modern frearms. This study explores Tsimane' perceived costs and benefts of bow-versus gun-huntng. We consider cultural conservaton in additon to factors typical in ecological comparisons of traditonal and introduced huntng technologies. Firearms are expensive and less reliable than bows and arrows. Costs of purchasing frearms requires market engagement and surplus producton to generate cash. Tsimane' do not identfy overhuntng as one of the costs of frearms; though multple studies show reduced game populatons in areas under moderate to intense gun-huntng pressure. In sum, Tsimane' identfy multple benefts to traditonal huntng technology, while frearms have a strong efect of the loss of knowledge regarding fabricaton of bows and arrows, and present a challenge to Tsimane' cultural identty as bow-hunters.