Knowledge and Attitudes towards snakes in the vereda el Laurel, Quimbaya-Quindío, Colombia

• Autor(a) principal: Moya Bedoya, Yolima
• Data de Publicação: 2024
• Outros Autores: Botero Botero, Álvaro, Costa Neto, Eraldo M.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Revista Ouricuri (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://www.revistas.uneb.br/index.php/ouricuri/article/view/18032
• topic: biofobia; etnoespécies; etnozoologia; percepções; serpentes; biophobia; ethnospecies; ethnozoology; perceptions; snakes; biofobia; etnoespecies; etnozoología; percepciones; serpientes

Snakes have played a significant role in the symbolism of cultures throughout history. These reptiles have become part of traditions, beliefs, and customs in many societies. Despite their immense ecological value, zoophobia and human activities have progressively decimated their populations. The objective of this study was to identify the relationship between humans and snakes in the community of El Laurel, Quimbaya-Quindío, Colombia. Through questionnaires and structured interviews with adult residents and the student community, it was found that negative emotions such as fear and disgust predominated in both age groups. In addition to evolutionary implications, fear strongly influences the transmission of knowledge and beliefs from parent to child. The perceptions of danger posed by snakes are replicated in the new generations, with a decrease in willingness to conserve as they grow older. The recognition of morphotypes depicted by the students revolved around snakes with red, black, and yellow rings, as well as green and black coloration, which is related to sighting frequency, size, color pattern (mainly aposematic colors), and venom potential. Furthermore, the most frequently named ethnospecies were the red-tailed coral snake (Micrurus mipartitus Duméril, Bibron e Duméril), the coral snakes (Micrurus genus), and the slender green snake (Leptophis ahaetulla L.). Collecting and understanding the perceptions and knowledge of the community allows us to see conflicts from the inhabitants' realities. Keeping this in mind helps establish future awareness and demystification strategies for the conservation and resolution of conflicts in the human-snake relationship within the specific context of El Laurel community.