To tell a different story: Unexpected diversity in local attitudes towards Endangered Aye‐ayes Daubentonia madagascariensis offers new opportunities for conservation

Randimbiharinirina, Roger Doménico; Richter, Torsten; Raharivololona, Brigitte M.; Ratsimbazafy, Jonah; Schüßler, Dominik

doi:10.1002/pan3.10192

Cited by 12 publications

(18 citation statements)

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“…A recent study, however, revealed the heterogeneity in local attitudes toward aye-ayes across 11 villages in northern Madagascar (Randimbiharinirina et al, 2021). The researchers found that negative attitudes toward aye-ayes in some villages stemmed from vague accounts unfounded in the ecology of this lemur species, while positive and neutral attitudes in other villages were based on the observed behavior of aye-ayes as providers of pest-control services and curiosity about the species (B3; C3) (Randimbiharinirina et al, 2021). The identification of this variable social-ecological relationship across the study area provides opportunities for targeted conservation initiatives that highlight the beneficial value of aye-ayes as providers of pestcontrol services, and offers a nuanced approach that considers local and site-specific values.…”

Section: The Role Of Informal Institutionsmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Moreover, we scanned for articles fitting our key terms in all volumes published in Lemur News (Volumes 1-22; years 1996-2019/20), the newsletter of the Madagascar section of the IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group (http:// www.primate-sg.org/lemur_news/). Two references, a global overview of the use of primates in traditional medicine (Alves et al, 2010) and a recent study on local attitudes toward ayeayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis) (Randimbiharinirina et al, 2021), were not part of the original search results but were included in the review. Our search resulted in 51 total papers used for a content analysis (see Supplementary Table 1 for a complete list of references).…”

Section: Literature Search and Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This fady, along with local characterizations of aye-ayes as crop pests, results in their killing when sighted near villages (B3; C3; C7) (Albignac, 1987 in Simons andMeyers, 2001;Quinn and Wilson, 2004;Koenig, 2005in Loudon et al, 2006Jones et al, 2008). A recent study, however, revealed the heterogeneity in local attitudes toward aye-ayes across 11 villages in northern Madagascar (Randimbiharinirina et al, 2021). The researchers found that negative attitudes toward aye-ayes in some villages stemmed from vague accounts unfounded in the ecology of this lemur species, while positive and neutral attitudes in other villages were based on the observed behavior of aye-ayes as providers of pest-control services and curiosity about the species (B3; C3) (Randimbiharinirina et al, 2021).…”

Section: The Role Of Informal Institutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social-Ecological Interactions Influencing Primate Harvest: Insights From Madagascar

Rivera

Mayo

Hull

2021

Front. Conserv. Sci.

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Globally, non-human primates face mounting threats due to unsustainable harvest by humans. There is a need to better understand the diverse drivers of primate harvest and the complex social-ecological interactions influencing harvest in shared human-primate systems. Here, we take an interdisciplinary, systems approach to assess how complex interactions among primate biological and ecological characteristics and human social factors affect primate harvest. We apply our approach through a review and synthesis of the literature on lemur harvest in Madagascar, a country with one of the highest primate species richness in the world coupled with high rates of threatened primate species and populations in decline. We identify social and ecological factors affecting primate harvest, including the characteristics of lemurs that may make them vulnerable to harvest by humans; factors describing human motivations for (or deterrents to) harvest; and political and governance factors related to power and accessibility. We then discuss social-ecological interactions that emerge from: (1) the prevalence of informal institutions (e.g., cultural taboos), (2) adoption of human predatory strategies, (3) synergies with habitat use and habitat loss, and (4) interactions among regional- and local-scale factors (multi-level interactions). Our results illustrate that social-ecological interactions influencing lemur harvest in Madagascar are complex and context-specific, while influenced by a combination of interactions between species-specific characteristics and human social factors. These context-specific interactions may be also influenced by local-level cultural practices, land use change, and effects from regional-level social complexities such as political upheaval and food insecurity. We conclude by discussing the importance of identifying and explicitly accounting for nuances in underlying social-ecological systems and putting forth ideas for future research on primate harvest in shared human-primate systems, including research on social-ecological feedbacks and the application of Routine Activities Theory.

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Section: The Role Of Informal Institutionsmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Literature Search and Synthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Role Of Informal Institutionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Social-Ecological Interactions Influencing Primate Harvest: Insights From Madagascar

Rivera

Mayo

Hull

2021

Front. Conserv. Sci.

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“…In Madagascar, population restoration [sensu Seddon et al, 2012] programs of lemurs have been carried out to reinforce existing populations or to repopulate areas where species have been locally extirpated [Britt et al, 2004;Day et al, 2009]. The threats and pressures that lemurs face include habitat loss through deforestation (slash and burn agriculture and selective logging), illegal poaching for food and the pet trade, and hunting due to fear or fady (i.e., a cultural taboo) [Sterling and Feistner, 2000;Simons and Meyers, 2001;Sterling, 2003;Glaw et al, 2008;Louis et al, 2020, Randimbiharinirina et al, 2021. These programs can help rehabilitate or support vulnerable populations in the wild.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most studies on the ecology of D. madagascariensis have been carried out in the eastern rain forests of Madagascar [Petter and Peyrieras, 1970;Iwano and Iwakawa, 1988;Iwano, 1991;Sterling, 1993a, b;Ancrenaz et al, 1994;Erickson, 1995;Farris et al, 2011;Sefczek et al, 2012;Sedera, 2014;Solofondranohatra, 2014;Randimbiharinirina, 2015;Thompson et al, 2016;Sefczek et al, 2017;Randimbiharinirina et al, 2018, Sefczek et al, 2020aRakotondrazandry et al, 2021;Randimbiharinirina et al, 2021]. In these habitats, aye-ayes have been reported to feed on insects and larvae, fruits and seeds [Andriamasimanana, 1994], nectar and flowers [Sterling, 1993;Ancrenaz et al, 1994;Sterling, 1993b], bamboo shoots and outgrowths on trees [Pollock et al, 1985;Sterling and McCreless, 2006].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Initial Reintroduction of the Aye-Aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) in Anjajavy Reserve, Northwestern Madagascar

Rambeloson¹,

Andriambeloson

Rasoanaivo

et al. 2021

Folia Primatol

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Madagascar’s biodiversity is imperiled by habitat loss and degradation. Furthermore, species may be locally extirpated due to targeted hunting or disease. Translocating at-risk individuals to areas devoid of the species may be an effective conservation intervention. The aye-aye, Daubentonia madagascariensis, is uniquely susceptible to hunting pressure due to a cultural superstition. In June 2018, we reintroduced two aye-ayes in the Anjajavy Reserve, a dry deciduous forest in northwestern Madagascar. The translocated individuals, an adult female and juvenile offspring, were rescued from a neighboring forest that was subjected to pressure from fires and logging. We safely secured and transported the aye-ayes to Anjajavy and put them in a quarantine enclosure, where they were subjected to biomedical and behavioral monitoring. After release in the adjacent, protected forest, we conducted post-release monitoring of the adult female using radio-tracking and scan sampling to determine ranging and activity patterns. We conducted behavioral observations from October 2018 to February 2019 and collected sleeping site data from October 2018 to September 2019. The female aye-aye fed on local resources including Canarium sp. seeds. During the study period, the aye-aye used 31 nests, occupied a home range of approximately 85 ha and travelled, on average, at a pace of 320 meters per hour. Our findings are comparable with published data on wild aye-ayes in other regions of Madagascar, and provide support for future reintroductions of adult aye-ayes, and potentially other endemic species to the natural and protected habitats of Anjajavy.

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Giant anteaters as bad omens: Determinants and implications of wildlife superstitions

Catapani,

Desbiez,

Morsello

2023

People and Nature

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Superstitious beliefs threaten wildlife species, yet they have received limited attention in the scientific literature. Through a mixed‐method approach, including 259 face‐to‐face interviews, we explored the factors influencing superstitions about giant anteaters in the Brazilian Pantanal and their implications for both people and the species. Our results indicated that bad omen superstitions about giant anteaters could be explained by the psychological discomfort felt from the species' peculiarities, social influence, misconceptions about their biology and behaviour, and the frequency of the species' sightings. Age, gender and schooling did not influence superstitious adherence. Interviewees holding superstitious beliefs of bad luck reported worry, distress and anxiety in trigger situations. Most engage in superstitious behaviours to ward off bad luck. While some acts were harmless, others threatened people and giant anteaters. By explaining misconceptions and demystifying unique species characteristics that evoke psychological discomfort, conservationists might foster better coexistence between people and species historically associated with misfortune. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

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To tell a different story: Unexpected diversity in local attitudes towards Endangered Aye‐ayes Daubentonia madagascariensis offers new opportunities for conservation

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 12 publications

References 96 publications

Social-Ecological Interactions Influencing Primate Harvest: Insights From Madagascar

Social-Ecological Interactions Influencing Primate Harvest: Insights From Madagascar

Initial Reintroduction of the Aye-Aye (<b><i>Daubentonia madagascariensis</i></b>) in Anjajavy Reserve, Northwestern Madagascar

Giant anteaters as bad omens: Determinants and implications of wildlife superstitions

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