A 2014 study on Ethiopia’s endangered mountain nyala highlights how well-managed trophy hunting can support conservation under the right conditions. Using a management strategy evaluation model, researchers found that while monitoring uncertainty had limited impact, poaching severely reduced sustainability and quota stability. The findings show that safari companies benefit from investing in anti-poaching efforts and engaging local communities as scouts. However, beyond a certain threshold of poor data, annual quota variation became too unpredictable for business planning, suggesting a key role for government-backed monitoring. Trophy hunting, when science-based and community-inclusive, can provide critical revenue, protect habitat, and support local livelihoods — but only if grounded in strong governance and data-driven management. This study emphasizes the importance of aligning conservation incentives among governments, safari operators, and rural communities to ensure long-term wildlife protection.
