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Table 1 Overview of the explanatory variables used in this study

From: Understanding site selection of illegal border crossings into a fenced protected area: a rational choice approach

 

Variable

Measure

Rationale

Hypothesis

1

Distance to rhino

Average distance (km) to nearest rhino hotspot

Reward

More illegal border entries in areas near high rhino densities

2a

Distance to rhino

Average distance (km) to nearest rhino hotspot

Minimal risk

More illegal border exits in areas near high rhino densities

2b

Buildings

1 = Buildings present

0 = No buildings

Minimal risk

Fewer illegal border crossings where buildings are present

3a

Phone signal

1 = Usable signal

0 = No or unusable signal

Minimal effort

More border exits in areas with a usable phone signal

3b

Roads outside

km road/km2

Minimal effort

More illegal border crossings in areas with high road densities outside the reserve

4

Distance to power lines

Average distance (km) to nearest power line

Navigation

More illegal border crossings in areas near power lines