Jaguar and Puma in Brazilian Semi-Arid Region – Scapegoats for Weak Governance?

Abstract

Exclusively Brazilian, the Caatinga is a seasonally dry tropical forest where the endangered jaguar (Panthera onca) and puma (Puma concolor) co-occur with the lowest regional Human Development Indexes. New land uses challenge traditional livelihoods and add threats to species historically poached in retaliation for livestock depredation. Chronicle biodiversity conflicts became acute after a reported increase in depredation allegedly because of those changes and conflicts among stakeholders. Using the framework of human dimensions of wildlife management, pioneer research on the vulnerabilities of rural communities to jaguar-and-puma conflicts was led in ‘Boqueirão da Onça’, within and surrounding that polygon of protected areas. The aim was to identify, describe, understand, and predict human behaviour, and link the outcomes with the IUCN natural resources governance concept. Negative attitudes arose from 72% and 35.2% participants towards the proximity of jaguar and proximity of puma, respectively. When asked about institutions working for wildlife protection, and institutions working for people facing problems caused by carnivores, 64.9% and 88.8%, respectively, were unaware of them. Regarding beliefs about co-occurrence with jaguars or pumas, 80.9% and 82.9%, respectively, mentioned more problems than benefits, with 74.5% believing in the increase of both species’ populations due to the creation of protected areas. This scenario may ease jaguar and puma to become scapegoats for human-wildlife and broader social conflicts, unless values such as justice and transparency are pursued.