Abstract
Human emotions had a significant impact on the survival of our ancestors throughout our evolutionary history. Nowadays, it is possible that our emotions still influence our attitudes in favor or against wildlife conservation. To analyze this hypothesis, we designed a study using eight iconic vertebrate species (two birds, five mammals, and a snake) with different ecological roles, some of which are threatened. The study was directed to 238 inhabitants of communities within El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Chiapas, Mexico. We built a Conservation Effort factor (CE) based on questions related to participants’ attitudes toward the focal species. We analyzed the influence of variables (predictors) through a Sequential Canonical Analysis (SEQCA) using the next sequence: (1) participants’ experiences with animals; (2) negative emotions; (3) positive emotions; and (4) CE. The model also considered the influence of sociodemographic variables (age, gender, participation in conservation activity, religion, and region). The model was significant and explained 25% of the variance. Although sociodemographic predictors had an influence on the participants’ experiences with the focal species, these variables did not have an effect on the CE. The CE was significantly influenced by positive (happiness) and negative (fear) emotions. Our study revealed the importance of human emotions in conservation management strategies, especially with species such as large carnivores and snakes. We conclude that personality predictors could explain the remaining variance in the model. We propose further studies to examine the role of emotions and other personal predictors in human-wildlife interactions.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.
References
Ajzen I, Fishbein M (1980) Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Prentice-Hall, NJ, Englewood Cliffs
Ajzen I, Gilbert N (2008) Attitudes and the prediction behavior. In: Crano WD, Prislin R (eds) Attitudes and attitude change. Psychology, New York, pp 289–311
Albert C, Luque GM, Courchamp F (2018) The twenty most charismatic species. PLoS ONE 13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199149
Allendorf TD, Brandt JS, Yang JM (2014) Local perceptions of tibetan village sacred forests in northwest Yunnan. Biol Conserv 169:303–310. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2013.12.001
Alves RRN, Silva VN, Trovão DMBM, Oliveira JV, Mourão JS, Dias TL, Alves AGC, Lucena RFP, Barboza RRD, Montenegro PFGP, Vieira WLS, Souto WMS (2014) Students’ attitudes toward and knowledge about snakes in the semiarid region of Northeastern Brazil. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed 10:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-4269-10-30
Ambarlı H (2016) Rural and urban students’ perceptions of and attitudes toward brown bears in Turkey. Anthrozoos 29:489–502. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2016.1181384
Antony M, McCabe R (2005) Overcoming animal and insect phobias. How to conquer fear of dogs, snakes, rodents, bees, spiders and more. New Harbinger Publications, Inc., Oakland
Auqui-Calle GE, Tipantiza LA, Báez Esparza LA, Auqui-Calle F (2020) Conocimiento etnobiológico De La Serpiente Bothrops asper (Garman 1884) en la parroquia Alluriquín, Santo Domingo De Los Tsáchilas, Ecuador. Revista Etnobiología 18:62–77
Baldauf C (2020) Participatory biodiversity conservation: concepts, experiences, and perspectives. Springer, Brazil
Beaupre SJ, Douglas LE (2009) Snakes as indicators and monitors of ecosystem properties. In: Mullin SJ, Seigel RA (eds) Snakes: ecology and conservation. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, pp 244–261
Bhatia S, Redpath SM, Suryawanshi K, Mishra C (2016) The relationship between religion and attitudes toward large carnivores in Northern India? Hum Dimens Wildl 22:30–42. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2016.1220034
Bhatia S, Suryawanshi K, Redpath SM, Mishra C (2020) Understanding people’s responses toward predators in the Indian Himalaya. Anim Conserv. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12647
Bhatia S (2021) More than just no conflict: examining the two sides of the coexistence coin. Front Conserv Sci 2:688307. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2021.688307
Bhatia S, Suryawanshi K, Redpath SM, Namgail S, Mishra C (2021) Understanding people’s relationship with wildlife in trans-himalayan folklore. Front Env Sci-Switz https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.595169
Boso A, Álvarez B, Pérez B, Imio CJ, Altamirano A, Lisón F (2021) Understanding human attitudes towards bats and the role of information and aesthetics to boost a positive response as a conservation tool. Anim Conserv. https://doi.org/10.1111/acv.12692
Carlson A (2010) Contemporary environmental aesthetics and the requirements of environmentalism. Environ Value 19:289–314
Castaño-Uribe C (2016) Evidencias históricas del conflicto entre felinos y humanos: una línea larga del tiempo como dioses y animales. In: Castaño-Uribe C, Lasso CA, Hoogesteijn R, Díaz-Pulido A, Payán E (eds) II. Conflictos entre felinos y humanos en América Latina Serie Editorial Fauna Silvestre Neotropical Instituto De Investigación. de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt (IavJH), Bogotá, pp 37–47
Castillo-Huitrón NM, Naranjo EJ, Santos-Fita D, Estrada-Lugo E (2020) The importance of human emotions for wildlife conservation. Front Psychol. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01277
Castillo-Huitrón NM, Naranjo EJ, Enríquez P, Santos-Fita D, Estrada-Lugo E, González-García JM (2023) Feelings, conflicts, and use: wildlife-human interaction in El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2023.2263471. Hum Dimens Wildl
Ceballos G, Ortega-Baes P (2011) La Sexta extinción: la pérdida de especies y poblaciones en El Neotrópico. In: Simonetti JA, Dirzo R (eds) Conservación Biológica: Perspectivas Desde América Latina. Editorial Universitaria, Chile, pp 95–108
Cheung LT, Jim CY (2014) Expectations and willingness-to-pay for ecotourism services in Hong Kong’s conservation areas. Int J Sust Dev World. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504509.2013.859183
Dalgleish T (2004) The emotional brain. Nature 5:582–589. https://doi.org/10.1111/0044-0124.00639
Daltry J, Bloxam Q, Cooper G, Day M, Hartley J, Henry M, Kevel L, Smith B (2001) Five years of conserving the world´s rarest snake, the Antiguan racer Alsophis antiguae.ORYX.https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3008.2001.00169.x
Darwin C (1872) The expression of the emotions in man and animals. D. Appleton and Company, NY
de Pinho JR, Grilo C, Boone RB, Galvin KA, Snodgrass JG (2014) Influence of aesthetic appreciation of wildlife species on attitudes towards their conservation in Kenyan agropastoralist communities. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088842
DeLoache JS, LoBue V (2009) The narrow fellow in the grass: human infants associate snakes and fear. Dev Sci https//. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7687.2008.00753.x
Dolan JR (2002) Emotion, cognition, and behaviour. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1076358
Dressel S, Sandström C, Ericsson G (2015) A meta-analysis of studies on attitudes toward bears and wolves across Europe 1976–2012. Conserv Biol 29:565–574
Eagly AH, Chaiken S (1993) The psychology of attitudes. Harcourt Brace and Jovanovich College, San Diego, CA
Ekman P (1992) An argument for basic emotions. Cognition Emot 6:169–200. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699939208411068
Ekman P, Sorenson ER, Friesen WV (1969) Pan-cultural elements in facial displays of emotion. Science 164:86–88. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.164.3875.86
Enríquez P, González-García F, Cartas G (2019) Historia previa a la creación de la reserva de la Biósfera El Triunfo. In: Enríquez PL, Martínez R, Carrillo M (eds) La Reserva De La Biósfera El Triunfo: Avances Y necesidades de investigación y conservación El. Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chiapas, pp 25–34
Ericsson G, Heberlein TA (2003) Attitudes of hunters, locals, and the general public in Sweden now that the wolves are back. Biol Conserv 111:149–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00258-6
Eriksson M, Sandström C, Ericsson G (2015) Direct experience and attitude change towards bears and wolves. Wildl Biol 21:131–137. https://doi.org/10.2981/wlb.00062
Espinosa S, Jacobson SK (2012) Human-wildlife conflict and environmental education: evaluating a community program to protect the andean bear in Ecuador. J Environ Educ 43:55–65. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2011.579642
Estren MJ (2012) The neoteny barrier: seeking respect for the non-cute. J Anim Ethics 2:6–11. https://doi.org/10.5406/janimalethics.2.1.0006
Fančovičová J, Prokop P, Repáková R, Medina-Jerez W (2022) Factors influencing the sponsoring of animals in Slovak zoos. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12010021. Animals-Basel
Figueredo AJ, Gorsuch R (2007) Assortative mating in the jewel wasp: 2. Sequential canonical analysis as an exploratory form of path analysis. JANAS 39:59–64. https://doi.org/10.2181/036.039.0204
Figueredo AJ, Cabeza de Baca T, Barcellos H, Black CJ, Peñaherrera M, Hertler S, García RA, Meisenberg G, Woodley of Menie MA (2017) A sequential canonical cascade model of social biogeography: plants, parasites, and people. Evol Psychol Sci 3:40–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-016-0073-5
Figueredo AJ, Peñaherrera-Aguirre M, Salmon C, Steklis NG (2023) The relation of clade-specific biophilia to the construct of animality. Evol Psychol Sci 9:317–327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-023-00360-5
Fishbein M, Ajzen I (1975) Belief, attitude, intention and behavior: an introduction to theory and research. Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, Boston
Frijda NH, Mesquita B (1998) The analysis of emotions. Dimension of variation. In: Mascolo MF, Griffin S (eds) What develops in emotional development Plenum Press, New York, pp 273–295
Frynta D, Lišková S, Bültmann S, Burda H (2010) Being attractive brings advantages: the case of parrot species in captivity. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0012568
Godínez-Gómez O, Mendoza E (2019) Amenazas A La Biodiversidad De La Reserva De La Biósfera El Triunfo. In: Enríquez PL, Martínez R, Carillo M (eds) La Reserva De La Biósfera El Triunfo. Avances Y necesidades de investigación y conservación. El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Chiapas, pp 217–224
Gong Y, Bi X, Wu J (2020) Willingness to pay for the conservation of the endangered red-crowned Crane in China: roles of conservation attitudes and income. For Policy Econ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2020.102296
Gorsuch RL (1983) Factor analysis, 2nd edn. Hillsdale:Erlbaum, New York
Gosler AG (2017) The human factor: ecological salience in Ornithology and Ethno Ornithology. J Ethnobiol 37:637–662. https://doi.org/10.2993/0278-0771-37.4.637
Herrera-Flores BG, Santos-Fita D, Naranjo EJ, Hernández-Betancourt SF (2019) Importancia cultural de la fauna silvestre en comunidades rurales del norte de Yucatán, México. Península 14(2):27–55
Herzog H, Burghardt G (1988) Attitudes toward animals: origins and diversity. Anthrozoos 1:214–222. https://doi.org/10.2752/089279388787058317
Herzog H (2007). Gender differences in human-animal interactions: a review. Anthrozoos 20:7–21. https://doi.org/10.2752/089279307780216687
Instituto Nacional de Ecologia (INE) (1998) Programa De manejo de la reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo, México. Instituto Nacional de Ecología. México
Isbell LA (2005) Snakes as agents of evolutionary change in primate brains. J Hum Evol 52:1–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhevol.2005.12.012
Izard CE (2009) Emotion theory and research: highlights, unanswered questions, and emerging issues. Annu Rev Psychol 60:1–25. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.60.110707.163539
Jacques-Coper A, Cubillos G, Ibarra JT (2019) The andean condor as bird, authority, and devil: an empirical assessment of the biocultural keystone species in the high Andes Chile. Ecol Soc. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10939-240235
Jin X, Ma J, Cai T, Sun X (2016) Non-use value assessment for wetland ecosystem service of Hongxing National Nature Reserve in northeast China. J Forestry Res 27:1435–1442. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11676-016-0264-8
Johansen JP, Cain CC, Ostroff LE, LeDoux, E (2011) Molecular mechanisms of fear learning and memory. Cell 147:509–523
Kaltenborn BP, Bjerke T, Nyahongo J (2006) Living with problem animals: self-reported fear of potentially dangerous species in the Serengeti region, Tanzania. Hum Dimens Wildl 11:397–409. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871200600984323
Kellert SR, Berry JK (1987) Attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors toward wildlife as affected by gender. Wildl Soc B 15:363–371
Kideghesho JR, Nyahongo JW, Hassan SN, Tarimo TC, Mbije NE (2007) Factors and ecological impacts of wildlife habitat destruction in the Serengeti ecosystem in northern Tanzania. Biodivers Conserv 16:2213–2230. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-006-9132-8
Lambertucci SA, Margalida A, Speziale KL, Amar A, Ballejo F, Bildstein KL, Blanco G, Botha AJ, Bowden CGR, Cortés-Avizanda A, Duriez O, Green RE, Hiraldo F, Ogada D, Plaza P, Sánchez-Zapata JA, Santangeli A, Selva N, Spiegel O, Donázar JA (2021) Presumed killers? Vultures, stakeholders, misperceptions, and fake news. Conserv Sci Pract. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.415
Linares-Rosas MI, Gómez B, Aldasoro-Maya EM, Casas A (2021) Nahua biocultural richness: an ethnoherpetological perspective. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed https//. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-021-00460-1
Liordos V, Kontsiotis VJ, Kokoris S, Pimenidou M (2018) The two faces of Janus, or the dual mode of public attitudes towards snakes. Sci Total Environ 621:670–678. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.311
Lipták B, Kouba A, Patoka J, Paunović M, Prokop P (2023) Biological invasions and invasive species in freshwaters: perception of the general public. Hum Dimens Wildl. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2023.2177779
López-del-Toro P, Andresen E, Barraza L, Estrada A (2009) Attitudes and knowledge of shade-coffee farmers towards vertebrates and their ecological functions. Trop Conserv Sci 2:299–318. https://doi.org/10.1177/194008290900200303
Makumbe P, Mapurazi S, Jaravani S, Matsilele I (2022) Human-wildlife conflict in Save Valley conservancy: residents’ attitude toward wildlife conservation. Scientifica 2022:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/2107711
Manfredo M, Bright AD (2008) Attitudes and the study of human dimensions of wildlife. In: Manfredo MJ (ed) Who cares about wildlife? Social Science concepts for exploring human-wildlife relationships and conservation issues. Springer, New York, pp 75–109
Marcot BG, Heyden MV (2001) Key ecological functions of wildlife species. In: Johnson DH, O´Neil TA (eds) Wildlife-Habitat relationships. University, Oregon, pp 168–186
Martínez-Camilo R (2014) Diagnóstico sobre el conocimiento actual de la biodiversidad de la reserva de la Biosfera El Triunfo, Chiapas, México. http://www.conabio.gob.mx/institucion/proyectos/resultados/InfJN010.pdf. Accessed 23 March 2023
Mcleod E, Palmer M (2015) Why conservation needs religion. Coast Manag 43:238–252. https://doi.org/10.1080/08920753.2015.1030297
Miralles A, Raymond M, Lecointre G (2019) Empathy and compassion toward other species decrease with evolutionary divergence time. Sci Rep-UK 9:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-56006-9
Murphy SE, Campbell I, Drew JA (2018) Examination of tourists’ willingness to pay under different conservation scenarios; evidence from reef manta ray snorkeling in Fiji. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198279
Nummenmaa L, Glerean E, Hari R, Hietanen JK (2014) Bodily maps of emotions. P Natl Acad Sci USA 111:646–651. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1321664111
Onyishi IE, Nwonyi SK, Pazda A, Prokop P (2021) Attitudes and behavior toward snakes on the part of igbo people in southeastern Nigeria. Sci Total Environ. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143045
Pandey DP, Subedi G, Devkota K, Goode M (2016) Public perceptions of snakes and snakebite management: implications for conservation and human health in southern Nepal. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-016-0092-0
Parry D, Campbell B (1992) Attitudes of rural communities to animal wildlife and its utilization in Chobe Enclave and Mababe Depression, Botswana. Environ Conserv 19:245–252. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892900031040
Perry LR, Moorhouse TP, Jacobsen K, Loveridge AJ, Macdonald DW (2021) More than a feeling: cognitive beliefs and positive—but not negative—affect predict overall attitudes toward predators. Conserv Sci Pract 4:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.584
Prokop P, Fančovičová J (2016) The effect of hands-on activities on children’s knowledge and disgust for animals. J Biol Educ 51:305–314. https://doi.org/10.1080/00219266.2016.1217910
Prokop P, Zvaríková M, Zvarík M, Pazda A, Fedor P (2021) The effect of animal bipedal posture on perceived cuteness, fear, and willingness to protect them. Front Ecol Evol. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.681241
Randler C, Hummel E, Prokop P (2012) Practical work at school reduces disgust and fear of unpopular animals. Soc Anim 20:61–74. https://doi.org/10.1163/156853012X614369
Roblero MM (2017) Migración internacional y neoextractivismo minero: nuevos escenarios del territorio en la Sierra de Chiapas. Dissertation, Centro de estudios superiores de México y Centroamérica
Røskaft E, Bjerke T, Kaltenborn BP, Linnell JDC, Andersen R (2003) Patterns of self-reported fear towards large carnivores among the Norwegian public. Evol Hum Behav 24:184–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1090-5138(03)00011-4
Røskaft E, Händel B, Bjerke T, Kaltenborn BP (2007) Human attitudes towards large carnivores in Norway. Wildl Biology 13:172–185
Santos-Fita D, Naranjo E, Estrada EIJ, Mariaca R, Bello E (2015) Symbolism and ritual practices related to hunting in Maya communities from central Quintana Roo, Mexico. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-015-0055-x. J Ethnobiol Ethnomed
Serpell JA (2004) Factors influencing human attitudes to animals and their welfare. Anim Welf 13:145–151
Signal TD, Taylor N (2006) Attitudes to animals: demographics within a community sample. Soc Anim 14:147–158
Soga M, Gaston KJ (2023) Nature benefit hypothesis: direct experiences of nature predict self-reported pro‐biodiversity behaviors. Conserv Lett. https://doi.org/10.1111/conl.12945
Straka TM, Greving H, Voigt CC (2020) The effects of bat photographs on emotions, attitudes, intentions, and wildlife value orientations. Hum Dimens Wildl 26:596–603. https://doi.org/10.1080/10871209.2020.1864068
Treves A, Palmqvist P (2007) Reconstructing hominin interactions with mammalian carnivores (6.0–1.0 Ma). In: Nekaris KAI, Gursky SL (eds) Primate Anti-predator Strategies. Springer, Boston, pp 355–381. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-34810-0_17
Vásquez-Dávila MA (2014) Aves, personas y culturas- estudios de etno-ornitología 1. Carteles Editores-P.G. O, Oaxaca
Young HS, McCauley DJ, Galetti M, Dirzo R (2016) Patterns, causes, and consequences of anthropocene defaunation. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 47:333–358. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-112414-054142
Acknowledgements
We express our sincere gratitude to all study participants and the ETBR staff for their logistic support. We also appreciate the support of the Rufford Foundation [grant 31543-1], Idea Wild, and a CONAHCYT scholarship granted to the first author for doctoral studies. Besides, we are grateful for the suggestions of the reviewer.
Funding
This work was supported by Rufford Foundation [grant 31543-1].
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
All authors contributed to the study’s conception and design. Study conceptualization: NC, EN, DS, PP; Design of methodologies to collect data: NC, MP, ZJ; Fieldwork: NM; Data analysis and design of tables and figures: MP, RC, SV; Manuscript writing, reviewing and editing: NM, DN, PP, DS. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Competing interests
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
Communicated by Antony Brown.
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Castillo-Huitrón, N.M., Naranjo, E.J., Santos-Fita, D. et al. Influence of human emotions on conservation attitudes toward relevant wildlife species in El Triunfo Biosphere Reserve, Mexico. Biodivers Conserv (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02863-4
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-024-02863-4