Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://biore.bio.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3151
Title: Schoolchildren and one of the most unpopular animals: Are they ready to protect snakes?
Authors: Ballouard, Jean Marie
Ajtic, Rastko
Balint, Halpern
Brito, José
Crnobrnja-Isailovic, Jelka
Desmonts, Diane
Elmouden, El Hassan
Erdogan, Mehmet
Feriche, Mónica
Pleguezuelos, Juan Manuel
Prokop, Pavol
Sánchez, Aida
Santos, Xavier
Slimani, Tahar
Tomović, Ljiljana 
Uşak, Muhammet
Zuffi, Marco
Bonnet, Xavier
Keywords: Attitudes;Children;Conservation;Environmental education;Snake
Issue Date: 1-Mar-2013
Journal: Anthrozoos
Abstract: 
For cultural reasons and due to the narrow vision of environmental policy makers, most conservation efforts focus on a few charismatic species and consequently neglect the majority of others under threat; many unpopular species are even killed in large numbers with little concern. Redressing this bias through educational programs is therefore important. Snakes are unpopular animals; they suffer from human harassment in most places and many populations have declined worldwide. Consequently, they provide suitable substrate to better improve conservation education in schoolchildren. Responses to a questionnaire administered to 2,570 schoolchildren (7-14 years old) from 10 countries showed that many children liked snakes and that most of the students wanted to see snakes protected. Such counterintuitive results were supported by the explanations given by the children, notably the reasons they liked or disliked snakes. Previous physical contact with snakes was often associated with snake likeability. We also found strong and expected differences between countries: for instance, where venomous snakes represented a health risk, most children declared to be afraid of snakes. Overall, our results negate the simplistic, and previously unverified, adult view that snakes are necessarily perceived as frightening animals, thereby justifying their persecution. This study provides an encouraging message, suggesting that it is not compulsory to focus on charismatic animals to convince children to protect wildlife. © ISAZ 2013.
URI: https://biore.bio.bg.ac.rs/handle/123456789/3151
ISSN: 0892-7936
DOI: 10.2752/175303713X13534238631560
Appears in Collections:Journal Article

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