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the vicinity of a garden than at forested sites away from gardens. This study, however, generally did 

 not find differences in the density of wildlife in the vicinity of gardens as compared with their densities 

 in forest areas without gardens. 



Closing Comments 



Given the nature and extent of subsistence hunting by Maya Indians at Ejido X-Hazil y Anexos, 

 the harvest of some game species likely can continue for the indefinite future. Population levels of the 

 coati, plain chachalaca, pocket gopher, paca, collared peccary, and agouti appear to be stable. For the 

 white-tailed deer, brocket deer, thicket tinamou, great curassow, and ocellated turkey, population levels 

 do not appear to be stable, and hunters frequently complained that these species had noticeably declined 

 in number during the past 20-30 y. Hunters also reported that previously they used to hunt primates 

 (Ateles and Alouatta) and the crested guan (Penelope purpurascens), but that these three species now 

 were so hard to find that they ahnost never were hunted. 



Presently there are no effective enviroiunental education or wildlife management programs 

 underway at the study area. As a result, hunters harvest game without regard to age or sex of the 

 prey. If the local wildlife populations are to remain viable, effective education and management 

 programs must be implemented. Recognizing the independent nature of many Maya Indians with 

 respect to govenmient regulations and prohibitions, this may be difficult. However, education and 

 management programs are presently being used by local officials and state forestry managers to 

 regulate the harvest of timber and chicle, the latex of the s^odilla tree (Manilkara zapota; cf., Barrera 

 de Jorgenson, 1993). I would strongly suggest that Mexican wildlife officials establish a wildlife 

 management program diat is similar to the forestry program and is designed to accommodate the special 

 situation of Mexican ejido s. Such an arrangement could include bag limits, established seasons, and 

 areas on the ejido were hunting would be prohibited. At the same time, conservationists and education 

 officials could institute activities in the local schools and villages. These educational activities should 

 be based on species familiar to the Maya. Such a plan likely could assure the continued survival of the 



