Negative perception of bats, exacerbated by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, may Hhinder bat conservation in Northern Uganda

dc.contributor.authorEjotre, Imran
dc.contributor.authorReeder, DeeAnn M
dc.contributor.authorMatuschewski, Kai
dc.contributor.authorKityo, Robert
dc.contributor.authorSchaer, Juliane
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-04T15:56:58Z
dc.date.available2024-07-04T15:56:58Z
dc.date.issued2022-12-16
dc.description.abstractBats face diverse challenges that cause global bat population declines, including habitat loss and roost disturbance. Additionally, negative perceptions of bats and their potential role in several zoonotic diseases have led to actions against bats. We documented existing knowledge and perception of bats through interviews with 151 participants of fifteen tribes in Northern Uganda in 2020 and conducted a sensitization campaign that prevented planned actions against bats. The interviews revealed distinct firm beliefs, negative perceptions, limited knowledge on bats, and the influence of media in shaping actions against bats. In addition, modified landscapes and habitat loss increased encounters and subsequent deterioration of relations between humans and bats. Targeted threats towards bats were exacerbated by public misinformation during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. No deliberate conservation efforts exist, and negative perception largely hampers the implementation of bat conservation in Northern Uganda. Importantly, the study also demonstrates that sensitization campaigns can be effective tools to protect bats in the short term. Regular sensitizations and education are recommended for sustainable changes in attitudes to and coexistence with bats.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipThe German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD); The US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (1R01AI151144).en_US
dc.identifier.citationEjotre, I., Reeder, D. M., Matuschewski, K., Kityo, R., & Schaer, J. (2022). Negative perception of bats, exacerbated by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, may hinder bat conservation in Northern Uganda. Sustainability, 14(24), 16924. https://doi.org/10.3390/ su142416924en_US
dc.identifier.issn2071-1050
dc.identifier.urihttps://dir.muni.ac.ug/handle/20.500.12260/662
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMDPIen_US
dc.subjectUgandaen_US
dc.subjectBatsen_US
dc.subjectIndigenous knowledgeen_US
dc.subjectPerceptionen_US
dc.subjectConservationen_US
dc.subjectEducationen_US
dc.subjectHuman-bat interactionen_US
dc.subjectPublic misinformationen_US
dc.titleNegative perception of bats, exacerbated by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, may Hhinder bat conservation in Northern Ugandaen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US

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