The Justification of Anti-Poaching Military Conservation Efforts in South Africa: An In-Depth Analysis of How Militarization Occurred within Kruger National Park from 2008 to 2018 Through the Lens of Green Militarization

Abstract

[""After 2008, Kruger National Park in South Africa underwent a poaching crisis where rhinos and other wildlife were being targeted by poachers abroad. One way of dealing with this crisis was through the means of militarized conservation, a term dubbed ‘green militarization’. By looking through the lens of security, it can be seen how different narratives are at play when both local state and non-state actors try to justify these military measures to the local community. Understanding where these narratives stem from is essential to gaining a deeper focus on how exactly militarization becomes interlinked with wildlife conservation. This study investigates the different narratives at play when trying to understand militarization in the name of conservation. It also explores if there are any potential, less militarized methods to go about wildlife conservation. ,""]