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: Wildlife Values and Education |
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| Culture and Conservation:
Wildlife Values and Education |
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Zinta A. Zommers
- Student, Univ of Toronto
Kerry W. Bowman, Ph.D. - Univ of Toronto Joint Center
for Bioethics, Canadian Great Ape Alliance
Anthony L. Rose, Ph.D. - Wildlife Protectors Fund, Gorilla
Foundation |
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| Abstract
At the heart of conservation of the great
apes are values - highly shaped by culture
but poorly understood. The purpose of this
study is to better understand the values
of children in Cameroon and to determine
if and how
values shift due to educational interventions.
Surveys instruments and qualitative interviews
conducted in three schools in Yaounde Cameroon,
indicate that children have little knowledge
of the great apes, reflected in misunderstanding
and fear. Intervention consisted of information
on primates, a reading of Koko's Kitten,
and a discussion about the bushmeat trade.
Post-test results indicate feelings of kinship.
Both pre-test and post-test results show
positive attitudes toward keeping great
apes in zoos. It appears this may have first
been rooted in a desire to control wildlife
for human benefit, but later in appreciation
and concern for wildlife. Findings suggest
that education can influence short-term
change in values. Further research, however
is required to examine if and how long term
values can be sustained.
Introduction
Across the forests of West and Central Africa,
bushmeat hunting threatens the survival
of the great apes.
 This
is a complex problem involving politics,
economics and logging but also culture and
values. The values humans possess, greatly
affect behaviors toward the natural world.
Conservation efforts must account for cultural
perspectives. Greater understanding of values
and of factors which shape values are necessary
in order to ensure sustained stewardship
of the environment.
Objective
To study the values of Cameroonian children
with regard to the great apes, thereby exploring
their attitudes towards the natural world
and wildlife utilization; and to determine
if and how values shift due to educational
interventions
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Methods
Study Design
The study is based on written surveys and
qualitative interviews consisting of open
ended questions, completed in class by students.
Multiple choice questions identify:
1. respondent's knowledge and perception
of gorillas
2. understanding of gorilla/ human relations
3. Understanding of conservation.
While questions discuss gorillas, answers
provide a foundation for exploring environmental
values and concepts of the natural world.
Surveys were conducted before and after
an educational intervention. Intervention
consisted of three lessons conducted in
class by local teachers. Lessons were designed
to include elements of affective, or empathy
based, and cognitive, or factual, learning.
Lessons consisted of information on primates,
a reading of Koko's Kitten (a children's
story book based on the true story of Koko
the gorillas relationship with her cat),
and a discussion about the bushmeat trade.
Comparison of pre and post-test surveys
identifies changes in values.
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| Participants
and Setting
A total of 135 children aged 8-16
completed both surveys.
Three schools participated:
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Metet
Public School -
a
francophone school in a forested area
outside Yaounde, Cameroon
Government
Bilingual Practicing High School
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a
bilingual school in Yaounde, Cameroon
Holy Infant School -
an
anglophone Catholic school in Yaounde,
Cameroon.
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| Results
Knowledge of gorillas
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Only 27%
of students have studied gorillas at
school.
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30% have heard stories
about gorillas told at home.
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The majority of students
have not had direct contact with gorillas.
86% have seen gorillas in films or on
TV.
62.6% have seen gorillas in zoos. |
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Understanding
of conservation
Pre-test Survey:
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53% believe gorillas are not in danger
of extinction |
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77% believe gorillas should be protected.
This is justified by comments such as:
"They can be used to act in films. They
can also be taken as pets."
"They
are supposed to be tamed and kept in zoos."
"Gorilla is a creature created by
God."
"Science is still progressing
and we can learn many new things from gorillas
in the future."
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| Post-test Survey: |
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30% believe gorillas are
not in danger of extinction |
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97% believe gorillas should be protected.
This is justified by comments such as:
"They are like human beings."
"As the species of dinosaurs have disappeared,
the species of gorillas could also disappear."
"Because God made them to live with us."
"To know more about gorillas."
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In both pre and post test survey
students that believe gorillas should not
be protected justify answers by writing that
gorillas are wild and dangerous.
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| Conclusions |
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Acknowledgements
This research was funded in part by the
Gorilla Foundation and by the University
of Toronto Great Ape Fund.
We would like to thank the Cameroon Wildlife
Aid Fund.
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