Positive perceptions about the aardvark (Orycteropus afer) are inadequate to protect the species in northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

ABSTRACT

Communities in close proximity to protected areas suffer wildlife depredations which may engender negative attitudes to wildlife resulting in wildlife persecution. We assessed people’s perceptions about the aardvark, a shy, nocturnal Afrotherian mammal prioritized for conservation. We used semi-structured questionnaires to conduct interviews with 181 persons (11 to > 70 years old) from randomly selected households. Respondents’ perceptions of the aardvark were strongly positive (78%), because the animal does not cause physical harm to people, and flees upon sighting them. Aardvarks were hunted for meat (35%) and to obtain body parts for household use or sale to traditional healers. The positive perceptions about the animal are counteracted by the reputed tasty meat of the animal, which together with sale of its body parts have an overriding influence on animal abundance. We highlight the threats faced by aardvark due to its occurrence in close proximity to humans.

KEYWORDS:

• Communal rangeland
• ecosystem engineers
• human-wildlife conflict
• hunting
• myths
• traditional medicine

Acknowledgments

The School of Life Sciences of the University of KwaZulu-Natal provided logistical support. The Mchunu Traditional Council granted us permission to undertake the study in Msinga. We acknowledge community members in Ncunjane for giving of their time during the interviews. We thank the Mdukatshani Rural Development Trust for facilitating our engagement with the community, Mr Mhambiseni Mncube for assistance in the field, and the Ndlovu and the Mchunu households for accommodating NM.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).