Tourists? knowledge and perceptions about wild capuchin monkeys at Iguazú National Park, Argentina

TUJAGUE, MARIA P; CASCO, MARIA PATRICIA; DI BITETTI, MARIO; HILGERT, NORMA; KOWALEWSKI, MARTIN

Foz de Iguacu

Congreso; III International Symposium of Ecology; 2018

SINECO

Humans have perspectives about non-human primates, which may contribute positively to a better coexistence between species. The interaction between humans and non-human primates in protected areas could have a large number of effects on the species involved. This interaction will be different from the interaction between humans and other mammals since they share biological, phylogenetic and behavioral features; and also have similar adaptations. Our aim was to analyze the knowledge that tourists have about capuchin monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) natural history and also tourists´ perceptions about the reasons why monkeys and people interact at Iguazú National Park, Argentina. We carried out closed-ended surveys consisting of 5 questions from December 2015 to February 2016 in four locations (bars and restaurants) within the park where tourists tend to concentrate. It took people less than half an hour to answer the surveys. We employed a multiple logistic regression using generalized linear models in R for the complete data set (N = 591) and the subsample of Argentine tourists (N = 359). Most of the respondents were from Argentina (60.6%) followed by Brazil (7.3%), the USA (3.5%) and Germany (2.7%), and others countries in a lower frequency. Median educational level was 4 (range 1-4; 1st Q = 3; 3rd Q = 4), indicating that most of the interviewed people had university level education. The median age of this sample was 31 yr. (mean 36.28, range 14?90). People referred that monkeys live in groups, move using the trees, sleep in trees and take care of their infants. With respect to diet, fruits, leaves and insects were the most cited food categories recognized by tourists. The models that best explain the levels of general knowledge included the fact that people have seen monkeys and the presence of a tourist guide during the visit, while for dietary knowledge included the age of the respondents, their occupation and the presence of a tourist guide during the visit. Tourists mention curiosity, hunger and to steal things as the more important reasons why monkeys approach people, while take photos, curiosity and need to feed them as the more important reasons why people approach the monkeys. This study allows a greater knowledge of the factors involved in a growing conflict, providing tools to improve thepolicies of control of tourism over local wildlife.