WHO OWNS WILDLIFE IN URUGUAY? CONNECTIONS BETWEEN GAME MANAGEMENT AND LOCAL PERSPECTIVES ON WILDLIFE OWNERSHIP

Abstract

The connection between the legal definition of wildlife ownership is fundamental in establishing clear and appropriate hunting regulations. Ambiguity in the terminology used to justify the need for regulations and their relationship to traditional knowledge may impede species management and conservation. Between 2013 and 2018 we studied the relationship between the hunting national framework in Uruguay with local practices and perceptions of hunting and wildlife ownership. Based on ethnographic work in Paso Centurión, a small rural town in north-eastern Uruguay, we describe local forms of environmental engagement, wildlife ownership, and the impact of developing a protected area. We highlight the importance of considering local attitudes and perceptions of hunting regulation, incorporating a broader discussion about the ownership of nature and the forms of human-wildlife relations in rural contexts.