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Human Dimensions of Pangolin Conservation: Indigenous and Local Knowledge, Ethnozoological Uses, and Willingness of Rural Communities to Enhance Pangolin Conservation in Nepal

Suwal, Tulshi Laxmi, Gurung, Sabita, Shrestha, Manoj Bakhunchhe, Ingram, Daniel J., Pei, Kurtis Jai-Chyi (2023) Human Dimensions of Pangolin Conservation: Indigenous and Local Knowledge, Ethnozoological Uses, and Willingness of Rural Communities to Enhance Pangolin Conservation in Nepal. Journal of Ethnobiology, 42 (3). pp. 1-18. ISSN 0278-0771. E-ISSN 2162-4496. (doi:10.2993/0278-0771-42.3.7) (Access to this publication is currently restricted. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:98042)

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Abstract

Understanding local knowledge about wildlife, local uses, and local people's willingness to support conservation activities are crucial factors in formulating wildlife conservation strategies. We conducted a semi-structured questionnaire survey of 1017 people from 105 villages located in different ecological regions across all seven Provinces of Nepal. We performed generalized linear mixed modeling (GLMM) to investigate the key drivers influencing respondents' knowledge about pangolins, based on a questionnaire score. We identified provinces, ethnicity, occupation, gender, and age group as strong predictors influencing local ecological knowledge about pangolins. The respondents from provinces in the western part of Nepal represented significantly lower knowledge scores than the respondents from the eastern and central provinces. Similarly, respondents belonging to non-Indigenous groups, students, females, and people aged between 18–30 years had the lowest knowledge scores about pangolins. A range of uses and beliefs about pangolins were reported across Nepal, and 48% of respondents believed that pangolin scales and meat were used for traditional medicines. The majority of respondents (71.1%) were willing to support pangolin conservation in their local areas. Our study suggests that awareness programs, alternative livelihood, and income-generating trainings for local communities could be helpful in enhancing the long-term conservation of pangolins in Nepal. Increased efforts are needed in western Nepal and across the country with non-Indigenous communities, females, young people, and students. Thus, this study offers an important baseline to help design and execute effective community-based conservation actions and management decisions for pangolin conservation.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.2993/0278-0771-42.3.7
Uncontrolled keywords: Plant Science, Anthropology, Animal Science and Zoology
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
SWORD Depositor: JISC Publications Router
Depositing User: JISC Publications Router
Date Deposited: 25 Nov 2022 16:33 UTC
Last Modified: 03 Nov 2023 14:57 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/98042 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Ingram, Daniel J..

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