Globally, pressure from the illegal harvesting of wildlife is a recurrent issue for
protected area management. In order to ensure the effective conservation of wildlife resources,
law enforcement has been identified as one of the most important components of protected area
management. Our study aimed at addressing the following two research questions: (1) what are
the perceptions of law enforcement staff in Gonarezhou National Park (GNP), Zimbabwe, about
illegal hunting practices, illegal hunter’s characteristics, wild animals commonly targeted and
trends of poaching in the park; and, (2) what are the suggestions for reducing illegal hunting
and enhancing wildlife conservation in GNP ecosystem? Data were collected using a semistructured
questionnaire administered through interviews from 42 law enforcement staff
representing 47 % of the total law enforcement staff in GNP from February to May 2011. Our
results showed that 76 % (n = 32) of the patrol rangers perceived that most illegal hunters were
between 21 and 30 years. Nearly all respondents (95 %; n = 40) reported that most poachers
were residents of villages situated within 20 km from the boundary of GNP. Medium to large
wild herbivores were reportedly the most illegally animal hunted species whilst large carnivores
were the least illegally hunted animals. Most of the respondents (79 %, n = 33) perceived that
poaching activities had declined in GNP ecosystem between 2005 and 2010 due to an increase in
arrests. Increasing conservation awareness and education in adjacent communal areas would
help to further reduce illegal hunting and promote wildlife conservation