Indigenous names matter, too: Tapanuli orangutan names reflect local community perceptions

Understanding the meanings of names given to endangered animals is important because these names might influence how local communities perceive the animals. Influenced by name connotations, these perceptions may shape how communities support or oppose our conservation efforts. Conducted across nine villages within the Batang Toru ecosystem, this research involved 90 respondents. The study incorporated in-depth interviews and content analysis using a qualitative approach. Our findings reveal five local names for the Tapanuli orangutan: 'orang utan,' 'nihagatua,' 'mawas,' 'maos,' and 'juhut bontar.' The term 'juhut bontar,' which translates to bloody meat, is significantly linked to the perception of orangutans as bushmeat, reflecting an attitude not consistent with species conservation. Consequently, we recommend discontinuing this term in local conservation campaigns. Our sample size was insufficient to conclusively determine whether non-indigenous names with potentially positive connotations due to the meaning 'person of the forest' (i.e., 'orang utan' and 'nihagatua') or rather indigenous names with neutral meaning (i.e., 'mawas' and 'maos') support pro-conservation attitudes.