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Looking beneath the scales: Does local ecological knowledge and environmental values better inform conservation of
Abhijit Konwar1,2, Sindhu Radhakrishna3
1Animal Behaviour and Cognition Programme, School of Natural Sciences and Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science Campus, Bengaluru, 560012, India. konwar13abhi@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Local ecological knowledge is acknowledged to be a valuable source of information about wildlife; however, it is not clear whether it can be mobilized appropriately for wildlife conservation. Using pangolins as a case study in Assam state, north-eastern India, we explored whether local ecological knowledge (LEK) and environmental values can inform the distribution and conservation of cryptic and threatened species. We employed semi-structured interviews to document forest-dwelling communities' knowledge regarding species occurrence, habitat use, and population status and their beliefs and values in relation to pangolins. Findings from our study show that LEK is a reliable tool for detecting cryptic species, with older respondents exhibiting higher likelihood of pangolin recognition. Value analysis revealed a strong inclination towards illegal hunting and trade, highlighting the conservation challenges involved in protecting a cryptic wildlife species. We advocate the need to integrate LEK and environmental values for holistic conservation strategies of cryptic species.
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