A sort of Recent studies The aim in Poland was to clarify how to arouse attention to protected species, including proboscis monkeys, which are not so aesthetically pleasing.
Researchers explored how to increase public interest in protecting this ugly monkey by disseminating interesting internet memes (monkey images with text that link their appearance to Polish jokes and cultural references) through social media and conservation marketing Possibility.
The team then monitored interest in proboscis monkeys and protecting superstars, such as Koala And gorillas analyzed public donations to related conservation campaigns.
As a result of this event, the media’s interest in proboscis monkeys-almost negligible in Poland before 2016-has increased Significantly, Which is equivalent to the coverage of traditional protection of celebrity species.
Donate
Interesting memes, focusing on the interesting side of the monkey’s appearance, attracted more positive reports and inspired several amateur crowdfunding activities to raise funds for species conservation in Borneo: Donate There are 218 donors in total.
In general, a creature that was previously barely known to the Polish public became the focus of important attention, eventually promoting its protection by helping to pay for the protection of its habitat.
These findings suggest that conservationists should not shy away from using memes to arouse interest in and raise funds for the more neglected and endangered members of the animal kingdom.
aye aye lemur, Rhododendron of Madagascar, Provides another example of the power of public attitudes influencing conservation efforts.
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Proboscis monkeys are fat and loose, while nocturnal monkeys are slender, bug-eyed, and unkempt.
Its two front teeth protrude like teeth Nosferatu of Murnau, Supplemented by an unusually long skeletal central finger, used to dig larvae from trees (but also used curse Unsuspecting humans, according to Malgas legend).
Even its name “aye aye” may be a language skill Avoid calling the creature directly by imitating its call.
However, although these creatures are called harbingers of human disasters, it is human beings that actually threaten the continued existence of aye aye.
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Aye aye number is already A sharp decline Since the 1980s, it has been culturally driven persecution due to hunting, deforestation of building habitats, and its reputation for “evil”.
Although people think that negative views of aye ayes are quite common in Madagascar, Recent studies Scholars from Madagascar and Germany have unexpectedly revealed the different attitudes of the villagers of Magalasi. Some areas such as Mura area Some areas in northeastern Madagascar have even become aye aye protection strongholds where aye aye is generally positive.
Where negative attitudes dominate, the villagers themselves are often unable to identify them from the pictures.Animals are still strangeness, The threat in imagination.
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In fact, the interviewee’s perception of aye aye seems to vary with the direct understanding of aye aye’s behavior.
Although negative views are more common than positive views, the latter is related to understanding the usefulness of aye aye in controlling pests Important crops.
aye aye’s first-hand knowledge and experience are related to positive perspectives, showing the importance of sharing knowledge in conservation strategies and the possibility of changing seemingly deep-rooted beliefs.
With time and patience, farmers realized that aye aye’s pest control capabilities might help generate important local actions that support conservation by helping to formulate new narratives centered on the creature’s role in our ecosystem.
Understanding how and why people think that certain animals are less attractive than others may be the key to successful expansion of public protection efforts.
This author
Mike Jeffries is an associate professor of ecology at Northumbria University in Newcastle.This article was originally published in dialogue Under Knowledge Sharing 4.0.
