Abstract
Chytridiomycosis (Bd) is contributing to amphibian extinctions worldwide but has so far not been detected in Madagascar. The high likelihood for Bd to spread to the island and efface this amphibian diversity and endemism hotspot requires respective conservation policies to be developed. Bd could be introduced by the large number of tourists that visit protected areas; therefore, increasing awareness among tourists and encouraging them to participate in safety measures should be a priority conservation action. However, concerns have been raised that tourists would not be able to distinguish between an amphibian disease harmless to humans and emerging diseases that would imply a danger for human health, invoking a negative image of Madagascar as an ecotourism destination. We evaluated whether informing tourists about this infectious animal disease would cause health scare and diminish trip satisfaction. Based on 659 respondents we found that most ecotourists favored to be informed about Bd and were proactive about participating in prevention measures, refuting previous concerns.
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Acknowledgments
We thank Andrinajoro Rakotoarivelo, Laza N. Andriamanimbiarisoa, Mialy T. L. Rakotozafy, Fanomezana M. Ratsoavina, Tsilavo H. Rafeliarisoa, and Olga Jovanovic, who helped to conduct the interviews. We are grateful to Daniel Rakotondravony and Noromalala Raminosoa of the Departément de Biologie Animale of the University of Antananarivo for continuous support and collaboration. We are grateful to Madagascar National Parks for allowing us to conduct the study, with particular thanks to the director of each PA visited, Chantal Andrianarivo at MNP headquarters, and Rainer Dolch of Association Mitsinjo for the great logistic assistance in Andasibe. Permission to conduct the research also was granted by the Ministére de l' Environnement et des Forêts. This work was funded by a grant of the Volkswagen Foundation. Additional funding was provided by a Darwin Initiative grant from United Kingdom government.
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Wollenberg, K.C., Jenkins, R.K.B., Randrianavelona, R. et al. Raising Awareness of Amphibian Chytridiomycosis will not Alienate Ecotourists Visiting Madagascar. EcoHealth 7, 248–251 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-010-0313-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10393-010-0313-2