Role of culture in the emotional response towards komodo dragon in Komodo and Rinca Islands of Komodo National Park

Arzyana Sunkar,Fitria Suci Ramadhani,Mirza Dikari Kusrini,A Setiawan Achmadi,S Anita,A Elang N.H,A.S Nurinsiyah,A Setyo Budi,E Dwijayanti,A Qodri,Encilia Encilia,Rusdianto Rusdianto,D.C Murniati

doi:10.1051/bioconf/20201900021

Abstract

Human emotions towards wildlife were seldom considered in wildlife conservation. This study seeks to identify, explore and understand the local communities perceptions and interactions with Komodo dragons. Data were collected from February to April 2018 in Komodo Village and Rinca Village of Komodo National Park, using close and semi-open questionnaires, three-scale Likert statements and interviews with 60 respondents. Although 98.5% considered Komodo as a dangerous species, in total, 60.6% of Komodo villagers had positive perceptions of their interactions with Komodo, while 47.6% of Rinca’s had moderate perceptions. Komodo attacks were less reported in Komodo Village despite the more frequent direct encounters. Komodo villagers have learnt how to adjust to the dangers, with 13% showed no actions during an encounter with the dragon, 77% pelt the dragon with rocks and 10% pulled it by the tail. On the contrary, 50% of Rinca Villagers, although showed no actions, but reported the sightings, 20% pelt it with rocks, 27% herd it with sticks and 3% hit it with wood. The different responses correlated with the different cultural beliefs and values towards Komodo. All Rinca villagers were migrants with no cultural attachments to the reptile, while for Komodo villagers, the dragons were perceived to be cousins, hence should not be harmed. Such perceptions have resulted in the approximately 83% of Komodo villagers believed they could co-exist with the dragons, and showed higher supports for its conservation (81.5%) than Rinca villagers (65.3%). This study confirms the importance of integrating local cultural values in building supports for conservation.

Highlights

Humans and wildlife have interacted by sharing natural resources for thousands of years
The residents of Komodo Village were dominated by natives (90%) with very small population of immigrants, while those of Rinca Village, were dominated by migrants from Flores-Bajo
The majority of Rinca villagers are currently engaging in fisheries as fisherman and dry fish traders, in contrast to Komodo villagers who are mostly engaged in the tourism sector

Summary

Introduction

Humans and wildlife have interacted by sharing natural resources for thousands of years If competition occurs both in terms of food and space [1,2,3,4], the resultant negative impacts [5,6] would often threaten the survival of the wildlife [1,2,3,4]. This issue becomes worse if the species are considered dangerous and feared, since people’s perceptions of feared species enhance their killings, as found in the studies on wolves by BrowneNuñez and Taylor [7] in America and Álvares 2004 in [8] in Portugal. Reptiles have since ancient time, experienced the same fate [10], especially since of the entire human and wildlife interactions, conflicts with dangerous reptiles are the most often causing death [11]

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Discussion

Conclusion