Exploring public perceptions of owl species in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Implications for conservation management.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In a changing world, effective wildlife conservation requires translating ecology into management. This emphasises the need to understand the relationships between humans and wildlife, as the survival of often misunderstood species, such as bats, reptiles, and owls, is influenced by environmental factors and cultural and social values associated with them. Ethno-scientific approaches, such as structured questionnaires, have proven invaluable in bridging this gap. We investigated people's perceptions, attitudes, and emotions towards owls in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

Methods

We used a mixed-methods approach (face-to-face interviews and online questionnaires). A total of 904 questionnaires were conducted via face-to-face interviews (simple random sampling

SUBMITTER: Buthelezi L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12584211 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature