Cultural attitudes and human pressure towards vultures around the Comoé National Park, Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)

Abstract Background Populations of vultures in Africa have experienced a rapid decline over recent decades, with some species suffering losses of more than 90%. Various forms of human pressures have been identified as the causes of this decline. However, very little is known about the complex intera...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Asso Armel Asso, N’golo Abdoulaye Koné, Volker Salewski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-02-01
Series:Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-024-00657-0
_version_ 1797273520937369600
author Asso Armel Asso
N’golo Abdoulaye Koné
Volker Salewski
author_facet Asso Armel Asso
N’golo Abdoulaye Koné
Volker Salewski
author_sort Asso Armel Asso
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Populations of vultures in Africa have experienced a rapid decline over recent decades, with some species suffering losses of more than 90%. Various forms of human pressures have been identified as the causes of this decline. However, very little is known about the complex interaction between cultural practises, traditional medicine and the vultures’ natural environment. The purpose of this study was to analyse human pressures on vultures in relation with cultural attitudes such as their demand for magico-traditional medicine in Côte d’Ivoire, around the Comoé National Park (CNP), one of the last major refuges of these organisms in West Africa. Methods Eleven surrounding villages were visited to carry out ethno-ornithology surveys. One hundred and ten people were interviewed, at a rate of ten people per village, using a semi-structured questionnaire and informal discussions. Results The findings showed that vultures are still being seen both in and around the CNP. The most common species indicated to be observed and indicated by the interviewees were the Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) and the White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis). Nevertheless, 98.2% of the interviewees indicated having observed a decrease in the abundance of vultures over the last few years in the study area, as well as a decline in the number of sightings of these organisms. Interviewees attributed this scarcity of vultures to (1) the limited availability of food resources, (2) pesticide and tobacco poisoning, (3) hunting, (4) rapid population growth, (5) annual bushfires and (6) habitat loss. The uses of the vulture or parts of vultures by the populations surrounding the CNP (traditional medicine, mystic practises, consumption as food, cultural heritage) were also highlighted as real threats to these organisms. And the vulture parts commonly used in this area are: feathers, legs, head, heart, stomach, brain and excrement. The Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) appears to be the most sought-after species and the most widely used for these practises in the study area. Conclusion Appropriate conservation and communication initiatives are required to ensure the survival of these raptors, crucial for ecosystem well-being, while also ensuring a respect of cultural practises.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T14:45:33Z
format Article
id doaj.art-44ce96b3dcb14f4eae7533ee087203f3
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1746-4269
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T14:45:33Z
publishDate 2024-02-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
spelling doaj.art-44ce96b3dcb14f4eae7533ee087203f32024-03-05T20:00:28ZengBMCJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine1746-42692024-02-0120111710.1186/s13002-024-00657-0Cultural attitudes and human pressure towards vultures around the Comoé National Park, Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)Asso Armel Asso0N’golo Abdoulaye Koné1Volker Salewski2Laboratoire d’Ecologie et de Développement Durable (LEDD), UFR Sciences de la Nature (UFR SN), Université Nangui ABROGOUALaboratoire d’Ecologie et de Développement Durable (LEDD), UFR Sciences de la Nature (UFR SN), Université Nangui ABROGOUAStation de Recherche en Écologie du Parc National de La ComoéAbstract Background Populations of vultures in Africa have experienced a rapid decline over recent decades, with some species suffering losses of more than 90%. Various forms of human pressures have been identified as the causes of this decline. However, very little is known about the complex interaction between cultural practises, traditional medicine and the vultures’ natural environment. The purpose of this study was to analyse human pressures on vultures in relation with cultural attitudes such as their demand for magico-traditional medicine in Côte d’Ivoire, around the Comoé National Park (CNP), one of the last major refuges of these organisms in West Africa. Methods Eleven surrounding villages were visited to carry out ethno-ornithology surveys. One hundred and ten people were interviewed, at a rate of ten people per village, using a semi-structured questionnaire and informal discussions. Results The findings showed that vultures are still being seen both in and around the CNP. The most common species indicated to be observed and indicated by the interviewees were the Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) and the White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis). Nevertheless, 98.2% of the interviewees indicated having observed a decrease in the abundance of vultures over the last few years in the study area, as well as a decline in the number of sightings of these organisms. Interviewees attributed this scarcity of vultures to (1) the limited availability of food resources, (2) pesticide and tobacco poisoning, (3) hunting, (4) rapid population growth, (5) annual bushfires and (6) habitat loss. The uses of the vulture or parts of vultures by the populations surrounding the CNP (traditional medicine, mystic practises, consumption as food, cultural heritage) were also highlighted as real threats to these organisms. And the vulture parts commonly used in this area are: feathers, legs, head, heart, stomach, brain and excrement. The Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) appears to be the most sought-after species and the most widely used for these practises in the study area. Conclusion Appropriate conservation and communication initiatives are required to ensure the survival of these raptors, crucial for ecosystem well-being, while also ensuring a respect of cultural practises.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-024-00657-0VulturesEthno-ornithologyMagico-traditional medicineComoé National ParkCôte d’Ivoire
spellingShingle Asso Armel Asso
N’golo Abdoulaye Koné
Volker Salewski
Cultural attitudes and human pressure towards vultures around the Comoé National Park, Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)
Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Vultures
Ethno-ornithology
Magico-traditional medicine
Comoé National Park
Côte d’Ivoire
title Cultural attitudes and human pressure towards vultures around the Comoé National Park, Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)
title_full Cultural attitudes and human pressure towards vultures around the Comoé National Park, Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)
title_fullStr Cultural attitudes and human pressure towards vultures around the Comoé National Park, Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)
title_full_unstemmed Cultural attitudes and human pressure towards vultures around the Comoé National Park, Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)
title_short Cultural attitudes and human pressure towards vultures around the Comoé National Park, Côte d’Ivoire (West Africa)
title_sort cultural attitudes and human pressure towards vultures around the comoe national park cote d ivoire west africa
topic Vultures
Ethno-ornithology
Magico-traditional medicine
Comoé National Park
Côte d’Ivoire
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-024-00657-0
work_keys_str_mv AT assoarmelasso culturalattitudesandhumanpressuretowardsvulturesaroundthecomoenationalparkcotedivoirewestafrica
AT ngoloabdoulayekone culturalattitudesandhumanpressuretowardsvulturesaroundthecomoenationalparkcotedivoirewestafrica
AT volkersalewski culturalattitudesandhumanpressuretowardsvulturesaroundthecomoenationalparkcotedivoirewestafrica