Predicting residents' intention to conserve the hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) in the Birem North District, Ghana

Abstract

The vulture as an important and specialized scavenger in human societies, helps clean the environment and prevents diseases. However, plummeting populations across the globe in the last three decades has led to the classification of some species as endangered and critically endangered. This study predicts the intention of residents to support conservation of the hooded vulture in communities near a mine site in the Eastern region of Ghana. Novelty of the current study lies in the use of a social psychology theory to prognosticate human attitude towards a potential vulture population increase. The Theory of Planned Behavior was used as the study framework while data was collected through household survey. The questionnaire assessed attitudes of residents towards the vulture based on a wide range of issues, using a five-point Likert scale. The results indicate that respondents have strong attitudinal disposition towards non-persecution of vultures – a salient determinant of intention to support vulture conservation (r = 0.66, N = 281, p < 0.01). Variables reflecting attitudes and subjective norm were significant predictors of intention to support vulture conservation but perceived behavioral control was not significant. Interventions aimed at conserving vultures in the study area may succeed if strategies highlight the importance of avian scavengers in human societies and target change in personal attitudes that favor nature conservation in general.