Owls in urban narratives: implications for conservation and environmental education in NW Patagonia (Argentina)

Abstract

In Argentinian Patagonia, the coexistence of owls and humans has a long and sometimes conflictive ethnobiological heritage. This paper presents a recent environmental situation which brought humans and owls together after massive fruiting of the native bamboo Chusquea culeou (Poaceae) in Los Alerces National Park, near Esquel city (Patagonia, Argentina). The event was followed by an increase in the population of native mice (e.g. Oligoryzomys longicaudatus, Abrothrix longipilis) which, in turn, caused an increase in the population of owls and other predators. This caused concern and fear in towns and homesteads close to the National Park. The objectives of our work were (a) to analyze the perceptions and attitudes of high school students and their families toward owls in Esquel city, after the rodent invasion and (b) to evaluate the effects on students of the integration of academic and traditional knowledge in teaching the ecological role of regional owls. We conducted workshops, interviews and laboratory classes. Our results show that a high percentage of the families interviewed know that owls feed primarily on rodents. Seventy four percent of people interviewed reported knowing at least one myth concerning owls; among these, 61% consider owls are diabolic birds, while 13% think they are good and wise. Both perceptions have behavioral implications ranging from some people wanting to protect owls or not interested in them, to some others who want to kill them. We believe that teaching through an intercultural approach increases the interest of students for owls’ conservation. In Patagonian urban areas, state-run wildlife conservation programs should reinforce cultural and ecological values of these birds in order to minimize any conflict with humans.