Values, animal symbolism, and human-animal relationships associated to two threatened felids in Mapuche and Chilean local narratives

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Nadja Palomo⁴  Lisa Söhn¹  Nicolas Gálvez²  Pelayo Benavides²  Elke Schüttler³  Thora M Herrmann⁴ 

[1] Department of Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning, Technische Universität München, Emil-Ramann-Straße 6, Freising 85350, Germany;Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Villarrica Campus and Centre for Local Development (CEDEL), O’Higgins 501, Villarrica, Chile;Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Fauna Australis Wildlife Laboratory, School of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Avenida del Libertador Bernardo O’Higgins 340, Santiago de Chile, Chile;Department of Geography, Université de Montréal, CP6128 Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, Canada

关键词: Chile;    Mapuche people;    Folktales;    Conservation psychology;    Felids;    Human-animal interactions;   

Others  :  862345
DOI  :  10.1186/1746-4269-9-41

 received in 2012-09-26, accepted in 2013-05-14,  发布年份 2013

【 摘 要 】

Background

The Chilean temperate rainforest has been subjected to dramatic fragmentation for agriculture and forestry exploitation. Carnivore species are particularly affected by fragmentation and the resulting resource use conflicts with humans. This study aimed at understanding values and human-animal relationships with negatively perceived threatened carnivores through the disclosure of local stories and Mapuche traditional folktales.

Methods

Our mixed approach comprised the qualitative analysis of 112 stories on the kodkod cat (Leopardus guigna) and the puma (Puma concolor) collected by students (9-14 years) from 28 schools in the Araucania region within their family contexts, 10 qualitative in-depth interviews with indigenous Mapuche people, 35 traditional Mapuche legends, and the significance of naming found in ethnographic collections.

Results

We revealed a quasi-extinction of traditional tales in the current knowledge pool about pumas and kodkods, local anecdotes, however, were present in significant numbers. Values associated to both felids were manifold, ranging from negativistic to positive values. While pumas played an important role in people’s spirituality, negative mythological connotations persisted in kodkod stories. Four prominent relationships were derived: (1) Both felids represent threats to livestock, pumas even to life, (2) both felids are symbols for upcoming negative events, (3) pumas are spiritual creatures, and (4) kodkods are threatened by humans. Recommendations are provided for stimulating new ways of perceiving unpopular and threatened carnivores among those who live in vicinity to them.

【 授权许可】

   
2013 Herrmann et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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