Study carried out in schools near the Ducke Reserve reveals lack of knowledge about animal species that live near homes.

The article "Attitudes towards scorpions and frogs: a survey among teachers and students from schools in the vicinity of an amazonian protected area" carried out in a region with a high index of diversity and close to one of the largest areas of continuous urban forest, revealed the lack of knowledge about important species that live close to residences in Manaus.

 

According to Dr. Igor Kaefer, one of the authors of the work, many conservation policies in countries with megadiverse forests neglect the local human communities that live around protected areas. In this work, the authors investigated the attitude and knowledge of teachers and students towards scorpions and frogs in a region located between a tropical forest reserve and a large Amazonian city. The objective was to identify possible deficiencies in environmental education and in the level of knowledge about these animals. Students of both sexes aged between eight and 16 years old, representing four schools on the outskirts of Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, were interviewed. Written responses regarding personal experiences and knowledge about animals were collected from students and teachers. Respondents showed more negative than positive attitudes towards scorpions and frogs. Attitudes towards animals did not differ in relation to gender and sex. Most students portrayed scorpions and frogs as lethal or aggressive, such conceptions were also recorded among teachers. The study identified gaps in knowledge about the importance and about the biological and ecological aspects of both groups. Associated with traditional classes, educational activities focused on students' emotional affinity with animals should be considered, as they can be effective in conservation strategies.

 

The work is authored by researchers Emerson Pontes-da-Silva (National Institute of Amazonian Research - INPA), Maria Lúcia Tinoco Pacheco (Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Amazonas-IFAM), Pedro Aurélio Costa Lima Pequeno (Instituto National Research Institute of the Amazon-INPA), Elizabeth Franklin (National Institute of Research of the Amazon-INPA) and Igor Luis Kaefer (Federal University of Amazonas -UFAM).

 

 

The pdf of the article is available at the following link

 

 

 

 

 

Text: Igor Kaefer and Maria Aparecida de Freitas