Students’ attitudes toward and knowledge about snakes in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine

Wedson MS Souto¹  Washington LS Vieira¹  Paulo FGP Montenegro¹  Raynner RD Barboza¹  Reinaldo FP Lucena³  Ângelo GC Alves²  Thelma LP Dias⁴  José S Mourão⁴  José V Oliveira⁴  Dilma MBM Trovão⁴  Vanessa N Silva⁴  Rômulo RN Alves⁴ 

[1] Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia), Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia da Universidade Federal da Paraíba, 58051-900 João Pessoa, PB, Brazil;Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. Rua Manoel de Medeiros, S/N, Dois Irmãos, 52171-900 Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil;Departamento de Fitotecnia e Ciências Ambientais. Setor de Ecologia e Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Centro de Ciências Agrárias. Laboratório de Etnoecologia, Areia, Paraíba 58.397-000, Brasil;Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Av. das Baraúnas, 351/Campus Universitário, Bodocongó, 58109-753 Campina Grande-PB, Brasil

关键词: Snakes;    Conservation;    Ethnozoology;    Ethnoherpetology;   

Others  :  804270
DOI  :  10.1186/1746-4269-10-30

 received in 2013-09-09, accepted in 2014-02-02,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

Humans in various cultures have feared snakes, provoking an aversion and persecution that hinders conservation efforts for these reptiles. Such fact suggests that conservation strategies for snakes should consider the interactions and perceptions of the local population towards these animals. The aim of this study was to investigate students' perception of snakes and if attitudes and knowledge may differ according to gender and local residence (urban or rural).

Methods

Data was collected in the second half of 2012 and consisted of questionnaires applied to 108 students in the Basic Education School in the municipality of Sumé, located in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil.

Results

The male respondents recognized more species than female did. Part of the students affirmed to have a fear of snakes, especially women. Nearly half of respondents (49%) showed negative behaviour towards these animals, reflecting the influence of potential risk and myths associated with snakes, and supported by a limited knowledge about these animals and their ecological and utilitarian role. We find that the rural students recognized significantly more species than the urban students.

Conclusions

Our results point to the need for educational interventions in order to increase knowledge about the positive aspects associated with snakes, seeking to minimize the influence of myths and beliefs that contribute to a strong aversion to snakes by the locals. Conservation strategies should therefore engage students but also teachers, who are key individuals in the process.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Alves et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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