Assessment of the hunting of mammals using local ecological knowledge: an example from the Brazilian semiarid region

Abstract

The hunting of wild animals remains a common activity in various parts of the world, especially in rural communities with poor socioeconomic conditions. To investigate patterns of mammal hunting, this study adopted a rural community located in semiarid Brazil as a model to test whether variables such as perceived abundance, activity period (day or night) and animal biomass could influence the consumption potential of mammal taxa. For this study, a checklist/interview technique using 32 photographs of mammals recorded in the region and two photographs of species that did not occur in the region, which acted as ''control'' species, was used, in addition to other visual stimuli and free lists. All species presented in the photographs, with the exception of the ''control'' species, were recognized as occurring in the region. Fourteen species were cited as being those most hunted locally. The species cited as most hunted had an average perceived abundance higher than the group of the least-hunted species. However, there was no significant relationship between hunting of a species and its locally perceived abundance. No significant difference in hunting pressure between diurnal and nocturnal species was found, nor was a relationship between animal biomass and hunting pressure observed. Our findings suggest that perceived abundance is an important factor for choosing a resource

Hunting in a community of waste pickers of recyclable materials in Rondônia, Brazil

“…Several reasons influence the preference and consumption of game meat, for example, economic factors (Morsello et al, 2015), ethnic and cultural identity, practices of traditional medicine (Alves et al, 2010), meat flavor, and hunting techniques (Silva Neto et al, 2017). However, hunting is an activity that affects fauna, even when it is carried out at a small scale (Machado et al, 2013).…”

Use of mammals in a semi-arid region of Brazil: an approach to the use value and data analysis for conservation

“…However, some studies [40, 48–50] have shown that when there is a lack of preferred species, hunters have to capture a higher number of prey of less appreciated species, as well as to increase the invested time and cover a larger area to capture the animals. It is noteworthy that several cultural factors (taboos involving the choice of species and/or hunting areas, and forms of use) are involved in the selection, capture, and use of species by local populations and have considerable impacts on the populations of the species used [41–43, 48, 51]. In this sense, the understanding of these factors is essential to subsidize actions aimed at the management and conservation of the animals used [41, 43, 52].…”

“…It is noteworthy that several cultural factors (taboos involving the choice of species and/or hunting areas, and forms of use) are involved in the selection, capture, and use of species by local populations and have considerable impacts on the populations of the species used [41–43, 48, 51]. In this sense, the understanding of these factors is essential to subsidize actions aimed at the management and conservation of the animals used [41, 43, 52].…”

Patrones de cacería y consumo de proteína animal en cuatro comunidades Waorani, Reserva de Biósfera Yasuní

“…Varios estudios (Franzen y Eaves, 2007;Lu, 2010;Mena-Valenzuela et al, 1997;Mena y Cueva, 2001;Urgilés, 2006;Vickers, 1989;Zapata-Ríos, Suárez, Utreras y Vargas, 2006;Zapata Ríos, Toasa, Neill y Jørgenson, 2004;Da Silva Neto et al, 2017) han evaluado la subsistencia de cacería (oferta y la demanda de animales).…”