An exploration of cultural beliefs and practices across the Southern Ground-Hornbill’s range in Africa

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Leon van Rensburg²  Werner Nell¹  Hendri Coetzee² 

[1]School of Behavioural Sciences, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, South Africa

[2]Research Unit for Environmental Sciences & Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa

关键词: Conservation;    Surrogate species;    Intervention programme;    Cultural practices;    Cultural beliefs;    Bucorvus leadbeateri;    Southern Ground-Hornbill;   

Others  :  861595
DOI  :  10.1186/1746-4269-10-28

 received in 2013-10-28, accepted in 2014-03-17,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

This article explores cultural beliefs and practices related to the Southern Ground-Hornbill (SGH) (Bucorvus leadbeateri) in nine southern and east-African countries.

Methods

A qualitative, thematic content-analysis approach was followed. Ninety-eight participants took part in the study. Interviews and group discussions were used as the main data gathering methods. Each interview was digitally recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed by means of thematic content analysis.

Results

The main themes that emerged from the data analysis indicated that beliefs and practices relate to the SGH as being (a) a bringer or signifier of death/destruction/loss/ deprivation, with the bird commonly being regarded as a bad omen of evil spirits and announcer of calamities; (b) a protector against evil spirits, against lightning and against drought; (c) an enabler/causer of altered perceptions, which include remote viewing, foreseeing the future, and creating an illusion; and (d) a timekeeper that announces the beginning and end of a working day and of seasonal changes.

Conclusions

Knowledge about the use of the SGH in cultural practices can contribute to conservation efforts in at least two significant ways: Firstly, beliefs and practices that were identified in this study as having potentially protective consequences for the SGH can now be specifically targeted and strengthened in future interventions. Secondly, destructive beliefs and practices that were identified can now be changed by means of the implementation of an intervention programme in countries where it is needed.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Coetzee et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

【 参考文献 】

• [1]Collar N: Birds and People. Eastbourne: Gardners Books; 2007.
• [2]Muiruri MN, Maundu P: Birds, People and Conservation. In Ethno-ornithology: Birds, Indigenous People, Cultures and Society. Edited by Tidemann S, Gosler A. Washington: Earthscan; 2010:279-289.
• [3]Mkhize N: Psychology: An African perspective. In Self, Community and Psychology. Edited by Ratele K, Duncan N, Hook D, Mkhize N, Kiguwa P, Collins A. Cape Town: Mercury Crescent; 2008:4-29.
• [4]Fernandes-Ferreira H, Mendonça SV, Albano C, Ferreira FS, Alves RRN: Hunting, use and conservation of birds in Northeast Brazil. Biodivers Conserv 2012, 21:221-244.
• [5]Alves RRN, Rosa IL, Léo Neto NA, Voeks R: Animals for the gods: magical and religious faunal use and trade in Brazil. Human Ecol 2012, 40:751-780.
• [6]Derwent S, Mander M: Twitchers bewitched. The use of birds in traditional medicine. Afr Birds Bird 1997, 2(1):22-25.
• [7]Ng’weno F: Sound, Sight, Stories and Science: Avoiding Methodological Pitfalls in Ethno-Ornithological Research, with Examples from Kenya. In Ethno-Ornithology: Birds, Indigenous People, Cultures and Society. Edited by Tidemann S, Gosler A. Washington: Earthscan; 2010:103-113.
• [8]Alves RRN: Relationships between fauna and people and the role of ethnozoology in animal conservation. Ethnobiol Conserv 2012, 1:1-69.
• [9]Meyer-Rochow VB: Food taboos: their origins and purposes. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 2009, 5:18. BioMed Central Full Text
• [10]Kemp AC: The Hornbills: Order Bucerotiformes. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1995.
• [11]Kemp AC, Kemp MI: The biology of the Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri (Vigors) (Aves: Bucerotidae). Ann Transv Mus 1980, 32(4):65-100.
• [12]Theron NT: Genetic Connectivity, Population Dynamics and Habitat Selection of the Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) in the Limpopo Province. In MSc Dissertation. South Africa: University of the Free State; 2011.
• [13]Kemp AC: Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri. In The Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Edited by Barnes KN. Birdlife South Africa; 2001:117-119.
• [14]Setha TAN: The status and conservation of hornbills in Cambodia. Bird Conserv Int 2004, 14(Supplement S1):S5-S11.
• [15]Kalimira N: The status of the Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri in some protected areas of Malawi. In The Active Management of Hornbills and their Habitats for Conservation: 4–9 November 2005. Edited by Kemp AC, Kemp MI. Pretoria: Naturalists & Nomads; 2007:245-251. [Bela-Bela]
• [16]Maasdorp L: A Campaign to Highlight the Plight of the Southern Ground Hornbill in Zimbabwe. In The Active Management of Hornbills and their Habitats for Conservation: 4–9 November 2005, Bela Bela. Edited by Kemp AC, Kemp MI. Pretoria: Naturalists & Nomads; 2007:225-230.
• [17]Vernon C: Ground hornbills and the drought. Bee-eater 1984, 35:32.
• [18]Chiweshe N: The Current Conservation Status of the Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus Leadbeateri in Zimbabwe. In The Active Management of Hornbills and their Habitats for Conservation: 4–9 November 2005, Bela Bela. Edited by Kemp AC, Kemp MI. Pretoria: Naturalists & Nomads; 2007:252-266.
• [19]Simelane TS, Knight MG: Traditional beliefs and conservation. Custos 1997, 1997:8-9.
• [20]D’Ivry Russel U: Formal Letter from Miss D’ Ivry Russel About Interview with Two Traditional Healers. South Africa: Ground Hornbill Research and Conservation Project, Mabula Game Reserve; 2000. [Unpublished MS]
• [21]Cunningham AB: Imithi isiZulu: The Traditional Medicine Trade in Natal/KwaZulu. South Africa: University of Natal; 1993. [M.Sc. dissertation]
• [22]Cunningham AB, Zondi AS: Use of Animal Parts for Commercial Trade in Traditional Medicine. Pietermaritzburg, South Africa: Institute of Natural Resource, University of Natal; 1991. [Working Paper 76]
• [23]Msimanga A: Breeding biology of Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri in Zimbabwe. Bird Conserv Int 2004, 14(Special Issue):63-69.
• [24]Wilfred P: Habitat Viability for the Southern Ground Hornbill in Tanzania: The Case for Malagarasi-Moyovoza Ramsar Site. In The Active Management of Hornbills and their Habitats for Conservation: 4–9 November 2005, Bela Bela. Edited by Kemp AC, Kemp MI. Pretoria: Naturalists & Nomads; 2007:240-244.
• [25]Guest G: Applied Thematic Analysis. Thousand Oaks: California; 2012.
• [26]Sarantakos S: Social Research. New York: Palgrave Macmillan; 2005.
• [27]Creswell JW: Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications; 2007.
• [28]Corbin J, Strauss A: Basics of Qualitative Research. Los Angeles: Sage Publications; 2008.
• [29]Mbiti JS: Introduction to African Religion. Nairobi: East Africa Publishers; 1993.
• [30]Koopman A: Lightning birds and thunder trees. Natalia 2011, 41:40-60.