Patterns associated with hunting with dogs in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil
Abstract Background Hunting has been an important cultural and subsistence activity for the survival of the human population. In the Brazilian semiarid region (Caatinga), the extreme seasonal changes and socioeconomic conditions have made local people dependent on the natural resources available, in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-022-00570-4 |
| _version_ | 1828090291429572608 |
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| author | Sebastiana Lima Santos María Fernanda De la Fuente Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves |
| author_facet | Sebastiana Lima Santos María Fernanda De la Fuente Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves |
| author_sort | Sebastiana Lima Santos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Hunting has been an important cultural and subsistence activity for the survival of the human population. In the Brazilian semiarid region (Caatinga), the extreme seasonal changes and socioeconomic conditions have made local people dependent on the natural resources available, including wildlife. Although hunting with dogs can result in higher efficiency for hunters, it can also have implications for game species conservation. Methods Using an ethnozoological approach (semi-structured questionnaires, free interviews, informal conversations, and free listing technique), this study aimed to analyze the patterns of hunting with dogs activities in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil by characterizing hunters’ and hunting dogs’ profiles, investigating target and nontarget prey species, hunters’ practices, motivations, and perceptions regarding the efficiency of hunting with dogs. Results We found that hunters that use dog assistance were mostly men, of different ages, with an occupation in agriculture, receiving less than a minimum wage, and with a low level of formal education. Hunters use two or more mixed-breed dogs with no clear preference regarding dogs’ sex. The motivations for hunting with dogs included mainly food, sport, and trade. Hunters cited twenty species captured by dogs without distinction between prey’s sex and age (14 mammals, 4 birds, and 2 reptiles). Only six of these were mentioned as being target prey when hunting with dogs. From nontarget species, eight carnivores are usually left at the site of kill, as they have no use to the hunters. Hunters perceived that hunting with dogs could be three times more efficient than hunting without dogs. Conclusion Overall, hunting with dogs represents a complex set of local variables, including characteristics of dogs and prey species, hunters’ motivations, and practices that should be considered according to each particular situation. Considering the human dependence on natural resources in the semiarid region, hunters should be included in wildlife management debates to mitigate the threat to game species while allowing sustainable hunting practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:55:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c366549ca3fa406aa2e13f08b1cf92fe |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1746-4269 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:55:48Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-c366549ca3fa406aa2e13f08b1cf92fe2022-12-22T04:41:55ZengBMCJournal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine1746-42692022-12-0118111310.1186/s13002-022-00570-4Patterns associated with hunting with dogs in a semiarid region of northeastern BrazilSebastiana Lima Santos0María Fernanda De la Fuente1Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves2Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da ParaíbaPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Etnobiologia e Conservação da Natureza, Universidade Estadual da ParaíbaDepartamento de Biologia, Universidade Estadual da ParaíbaAbstract Background Hunting has been an important cultural and subsistence activity for the survival of the human population. In the Brazilian semiarid region (Caatinga), the extreme seasonal changes and socioeconomic conditions have made local people dependent on the natural resources available, including wildlife. Although hunting with dogs can result in higher efficiency for hunters, it can also have implications for game species conservation. Methods Using an ethnozoological approach (semi-structured questionnaires, free interviews, informal conversations, and free listing technique), this study aimed to analyze the patterns of hunting with dogs activities in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil by characterizing hunters’ and hunting dogs’ profiles, investigating target and nontarget prey species, hunters’ practices, motivations, and perceptions regarding the efficiency of hunting with dogs. Results We found that hunters that use dog assistance were mostly men, of different ages, with an occupation in agriculture, receiving less than a minimum wage, and with a low level of formal education. Hunters use two or more mixed-breed dogs with no clear preference regarding dogs’ sex. The motivations for hunting with dogs included mainly food, sport, and trade. Hunters cited twenty species captured by dogs without distinction between prey’s sex and age (14 mammals, 4 birds, and 2 reptiles). Only six of these were mentioned as being target prey when hunting with dogs. From nontarget species, eight carnivores are usually left at the site of kill, as they have no use to the hunters. Hunters perceived that hunting with dogs could be three times more efficient than hunting without dogs. Conclusion Overall, hunting with dogs represents a complex set of local variables, including characteristics of dogs and prey species, hunters’ motivations, and practices that should be considered according to each particular situation. Considering the human dependence on natural resources in the semiarid region, hunters should be included in wildlife management debates to mitigate the threat to game species while allowing sustainable hunting practices.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-022-00570-4Canis lupus familiarisEthnozoologyHunting dogCaatingaWildlife conservation |
| spellingShingle | Sebastiana Lima Santos María Fernanda De la Fuente Rômulo Romeu Nóbrega Alves Patterns associated with hunting with dogs in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine Canis lupus familiaris Ethnozoology Hunting dog Caatinga Wildlife conservation |
| title | Patterns associated with hunting with dogs in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil |
| title_full | Patterns associated with hunting with dogs in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Patterns associated with hunting with dogs in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patterns associated with hunting with dogs in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil |
| title_short | Patterns associated with hunting with dogs in a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil |
| title_sort | patterns associated with hunting with dogs in a semiarid region of northeastern brazil |
| topic | Canis lupus familiaris Ethnozoology Hunting dog Caatinga Wildlife conservation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-022-00570-4 |
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