Perceptions and uses of pangolins (Pholidota) among remote rural communities in the Republic of the Congo: A baseline study from the Odzala‐Kokoua National Park
Abstract Habitat loss and overexploitation are the most severe threats to wild animals in Central Africa. One mammalian group under pressure from hunting is the Pholidota (pangolins), with three species of pangolin inhabiting the region. While local uses of pangolins have been investigated in severa...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12839 |
| _version_ | 1811309713506172928 |
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| author | Markéta Swiacká Daniel J. Ingram Torsten Bohm Francisco Ceacero |
| author_facet | Markéta Swiacká Daniel J. Ingram Torsten Bohm Francisco Ceacero |
| author_sort | Markéta Swiacká |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Habitat loss and overexploitation are the most severe threats to wild animals in Central Africa. One mammalian group under pressure from hunting is the Pholidota (pangolins), with three species of pangolin inhabiting the region. While local uses of pangolins have been investigated in several Central African countries, data originating from the Republic of the Congo are lacking. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a semistructured questionnaire survey in 65 rural communities around the Odzala‐Kokoua National Park. Our research focused on collecting baseline information on local knowledge of species ecology, and perceived economic values and uses of pangolins in local communities. We identified significant differences in our data corresponding to respondents' sociocultural and demographic profiles in the surveyed villages. Recognition of pangolins was high (98.2%), we recorded 22 traditional medicinal or cultural uses of pangolins by respondents, and the taste of pangolin meat was ranked highly (71.3%). Respondents based along the northern boundary of the park were more familiar with pangolins and the market value of their meat and scales, which could be due to better quality roads in the area and proximity to Cameroon. We then provide guidelines for further research to better understand the dynamics of local use, needed for conservation policy and actions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:46:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-00399f0abae743a2a21f457cde2a9326 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T09:46:15Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-00399f0abae743a2a21f457cde2a93262022-12-22T02:51:44ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542022-12-01412n/an/a10.1111/csp2.12839Perceptions and uses of pangolins (Pholidota) among remote rural communities in the Republic of the Congo: A baseline study from the Odzala‐Kokoua National ParkMarkéta Swiacká0Daniel J. Ingram1Torsten Bohm2Francisco Ceacero3Department of Spatial Sciences, Faculty of Environmental Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Prague Czech RepublicDurrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation University of Kent Canterbury UKAfrican Parks Brazzaville Republic of the CongoDepartment of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Prague Czech RepublicAbstract Habitat loss and overexploitation are the most severe threats to wild animals in Central Africa. One mammalian group under pressure from hunting is the Pholidota (pangolins), with three species of pangolin inhabiting the region. While local uses of pangolins have been investigated in several Central African countries, data originating from the Republic of the Congo are lacking. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a semistructured questionnaire survey in 65 rural communities around the Odzala‐Kokoua National Park. Our research focused on collecting baseline information on local knowledge of species ecology, and perceived economic values and uses of pangolins in local communities. We identified significant differences in our data corresponding to respondents' sociocultural and demographic profiles in the surveyed villages. Recognition of pangolins was high (98.2%), we recorded 22 traditional medicinal or cultural uses of pangolins by respondents, and the taste of pangolin meat was ranked highly (71.3%). Respondents based along the northern boundary of the park were more familiar with pangolins and the market value of their meat and scales, which could be due to better quality roads in the area and proximity to Cameroon. We then provide guidelines for further research to better understand the dynamics of local use, needed for conservation policy and actions.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12839bushmeatCongo Basinlocal knowledgePhataginus tetradactylaPhataginus tricuspisSmutsia gigantea |
| spellingShingle | Markéta Swiacká Daniel J. Ingram Torsten Bohm Francisco Ceacero Perceptions and uses of pangolins (Pholidota) among remote rural communities in the Republic of the Congo: A baseline study from the Odzala‐Kokoua National Park Conservation Science and Practice bushmeat Congo Basin local knowledge Phataginus tetradactyla Phataginus tricuspis Smutsia gigantea |
| title | Perceptions and uses of pangolins (Pholidota) among remote rural communities in the Republic of the Congo: A baseline study from the Odzala‐Kokoua National Park |
| title_full | Perceptions and uses of pangolins (Pholidota) among remote rural communities in the Republic of the Congo: A baseline study from the Odzala‐Kokoua National Park |
| title_fullStr | Perceptions and uses of pangolins (Pholidota) among remote rural communities in the Republic of the Congo: A baseline study from the Odzala‐Kokoua National Park |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceptions and uses of pangolins (Pholidota) among remote rural communities in the Republic of the Congo: A baseline study from the Odzala‐Kokoua National Park |
| title_short | Perceptions and uses of pangolins (Pholidota) among remote rural communities in the Republic of the Congo: A baseline study from the Odzala‐Kokoua National Park |
| title_sort | perceptions and uses of pangolins pholidota among remote rural communities in the republic of the congo a baseline study from the odzala kokoua national park |
| topic | bushmeat Congo Basin local knowledge Phataginus tetradactyla Phataginus tricuspis Smutsia gigantea |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12839 |
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