Understanding human attitudes towards bats and the role of information and aesthetics to boost a positive response as a conservation tool

Àlex Boso; Boris Álvarez; Beatriz Pérez; Juan Carlos Imio; Adison Altamirano; Fulgencio Lisón

doi:10.1111/acv.12692

journal article Apr 30, 2021

Understanding human attitudes towards bats and the role of information and aesthetics to boost a positive response as a conservation tool

Àlex Boso

Animal Conservation Vol. 24 No. 6 pp. 937-945 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1111/acv.12692

Abstract

AbstractAn understanding of human attitudes towards wildlife can be an essential element in the success or failure of a conservation initiative, policy or practice and represents one of the main conservation problems for wildlife species. Despite the ecosystem services bats provide, they often are a socially stigmatized group, misperceived and even hunted. This problem has been on the increase as a result of the Covid‐19 pandemic. We examined how aesthetic appeal and informational factors could influence human attitudes towards bats in a survey of 1966 participants from Spanish‐speaking countries. Gender, educational level, religiousness and previous experiences with bats were relevant variables to understand attitudes towards them. The results indicate that both aesthetic and informational stimuli increase the positive responses, reducing the negatives on the participants' attitudes. Our results show the importance of public attitudes to achieve conservation goals, especially in the context of human‐wildlife conflict. Bats are not charismatic animals and are still surrounded in mystery; however, our findings could benefit bat conservation plans, allowing the development of new communication strategies both locally and nationally and increasing public acceptance that will facilitate bat conservation.

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Details

Published: Apr 30, 2021
Vol/Issue: 24(6)
Pages: 937-945
License: View

Authors

�

Àlex Boso

Núcleo Científico Tecnológico en Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades Universidad de La Frontera Temuco Chile

B

Boris Álvarez

Departamento de Psicología Universidad Católica de Temuco Temuco Chile

B

Beatriz Pérez

Núcleo Científico Tecnológico en Ciencias Sociales y Humanidades Universidad de La Frontera Temuco Chile

J

Juan Carlos Imio

Laboratorio de Ecología del Paisaje y Conservación Departamento de Ciencias Forestales y Medio Ambiente Universidad de La Frontera Temuco Chile

A

Adison Altamirano

Laboratorio de Ecología del Paisaje y Conservación Departamento de Ciencias Forestales y Medio Ambiente Universidad de La Frontera Temuco Chile

F

Fulgencio Lisón

Laboratorio de Ecología del Paisaje y Conservación Departamento de Ciencias Forestales y Medio Ambiente Universidad de La Frontera Temuco Chile; Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Lab Departamento de Zoología Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas Universidad de Concepción Concepción Chile

Funding

Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientìfico y Tecnológico Award: 11180514

Cite This Article

Àlex Boso, Boris Álvarez, Beatriz Pérez, et al. (2021). Understanding human attitudes towards bats and the role of information and aesthetics to boost a positive response as a conservation tool. Animal Conservation, 24(6), 937-945. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12692

Understanding human attitudes towards bats and the role of information and aesthetics to boost a positive response as a conservation tool

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