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Emergence of the “Howling Foxes”: A Semiotic Analysis of Initial Interpretations of the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) in Estonia

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Abstract

The article attempts to bridge semiotics with species conservation and management. Biosemiotic and cultural semiotic methodology is applied in the analysis of a case study – the early occurrence of the golden jackal (Canis aureus) in Estonia. Nine semi-structured interviews were carried out with the local inhabitants of the Matsalu region, professional zoologists and environmental officials who were involved in the golden jackals’ discourse. The interviews were analyzed for interactions between golden jackals and humans, expected ecological effects of golden jackals, communication between different interest groups and central cultural motifs used to interpret the new species. It is argued that in the development of this discourse, the golden jackals’ own activity has played an essential role. At the same time, human cultural models also influence the interpretation of a new species to a considerable degree. Two of such models – the opposition of the own and the alien and the “settler’s” narrative – are brought out and analyzed. The effect of the fear of the unknown is also specified. To improve human communication about new or invasive species, it is suggested to raise awareness of the underlying cultural models and to use integrative communication as the developing discourse is dynamical and constantly changing for all interest groups. For a semiotic study of species management, it is suggested to combine methodology from biosemiotics, cultural semiotics and actor-network theory.

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Notes

  1. http://www.legaltext.ee/et/andmebaas/tekst.asp?loc=text&dok=X90008K7&keel=en&pg=1&ptyyp=RT&tyyp=X&query=looduskaitseseadus, retrieved 20.01.2014.

  2. All interview excerpts are translated from Estonian by the author. Respondents are referred to anonymously as (gender [M/F], year of birth).

  3. The issue of native ecosystems is indeed very complex. On one hand, the deterring effect of invasive species to local ecosystems is factually well proven. On the other hand, conceptions of native ‘nature’ and the “alien” tend to have a counterpart in social processes (cf. Peretti 1998; Coates 2007: 15).

  4. For instance, another scat analysis concludes that “rodents have been found to represent the primary food of the jackal (biomass estimation: 59.3 %, mainly Microtus spp.), and the European brown hare (Lepus europaeus, 20.1 %) and plants (19.7 %, mainly fruits) are secondary foods” (Markov and Lanszki 2011: 44).

  5. In regards to non-native or invasive species, the presence of different interest groups and different perceptions should be expected (García-Llorente et al. 2008). It is also common to have opposition between the general public and professionals in the question of irradiation of the invasive species (Selge et al. 2001).

  6. In some studies, the presence of a specific set of metaphors has been found in invasive species discourse, e.g. military metaphors (Larson et al. 2005). The present study reviewed a few metaphors, but a specific set of metaphors was not identified.

  7. From an ecological perspective, the river basins in Europe may be considered as a part of the network of ecological corridors for large mammals (e.g. Romanowski 2007).

  8. Anonymous comment made to news portal Ilmajaam.ee made at 19.05.2013, 21:54, retrieved www.ilmajaam.ee on 22.05.2013.

  9. In addition to the settler’s narrative also more direct arguments were used to oppose the removal of the golden jackal, e.g. the precaution principle, according to which the possible consequences of action should be analyzed before taking action (cf. Sunstein 2005).

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Acknowledgments

The research for this article was supported by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (Centre of Excellence for Cultural Theory), also under institutional research grant IUT02-44 from the Estonian Research Council and under project contract EMP151 by the Norway Financial Mechanism 2009–2014.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

The study follows ethical standards of qualitative research in social sciences. The respondents have been informed about the aims of the study, their personal identity has been concealed, and interviews have been conducted with the informed consent of the respondents. The study follows the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The approval of the research ethics committee is not required for this type of qualitative study.

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  1. Department of Semiotics, University of Tartu, Jakobi 2-311, Tartu, 51014, Estonia

    Timo Maran

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Maran, T. Emergence of the “Howling Foxes”: A Semiotic Analysis of Initial Interpretations of the Golden Jackal (Canis aureus) in Estonia. Biosemiotics 8, 463–482 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12304-015-9244-1

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