Use of specialized questioning techniques to detect decline in giraffe meat consumption

Biodiversity conservation depends on influencing human behaviors, but when activities are illegal or otherwise sensitive, e.g. because the behavior in question is taboo to a particular society, actors can be hesitant admit engagement with illicit behaviors. We applied Specialized Questioning Techniques (SQT) estimate and compare behavioral prevalence of giraffe meat consumption from 2017 2019 northern Kenya, Laikipia Samburu County, between direct questioning two SQTs: Randomized Response Technique (RRT) Unmatched Count (UCT). Comparisons samples (2017 2019) yielded significant differences across all three methods, confidence intervals distinctly divergent years. The disparity for methods suggests that there was true reduction usage our study area, 2019. A key change area time periods introduction community-based program conservation. Primary activities, including ecological monitoring, community outreach education, collaboration wildlife security teams, align other programs have demonstrated reduced poaching pressures. This demonstrates an application SQTs detect decline consumption, providing alternative self-reported data monitoring sensitive behaviors related exploitation uses wildlife.