Assessing the Effects of a Cognition-Based Education Program on Attitudes of Villagers Toward Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in Conflict-Prone Areas | JoVE Visualize

Assessing the Effects of a Cognition-Based Education Program on Attitudes of Villagers Toward Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in Conflict-Prone Areas

Radhika N Makecha¹, Sagarika Phalke², Yoshie Nakai^1,3

¹Department of Psychology, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, USA.

Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science : JAAWS|April 8, 2021

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Conservation education programs are key to reducing human-elephant conflict (HEC). Studies show educational interventions, not necessarily cognition-focused ones, significantly improve community attitudes toward elephants in Bannerghatta National Park.

Area of Science:

Conservation Biology
Human-Wildlife Interactions
Animal Cognition

Background:

Human-elephant conflict (HEC) poses a significant challenge, particularly in areas with Asian elephants.
Conservation education programs in local communities are crucial for mitigating HEC.
Understanding the effectiveness of different educational content is vital for program design.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess if incorporating elephant cognition information enhances conservation education effectiveness.
To evaluate changes in attitudes toward elephants and conservation among villagers in Bannerghatta National Park (BNP).
To compare the impact of cognition-focused education versus general conservation education.

Main Methods:

A study was conducted in Bannerghatta National Park (BNP), India, an area with high HEC.
Adult male villagers were exposed to one of two educational programs or a control group.
One program included information on elephant cognition; the other focused on general conservation.

Main Results:

No significant difference in attitudes was found between the two educational programs when compared directly.
A significant positive difference in attitudes toward elephants/conservation was observed between the intervention groups and the control group.
This suggests that any educational intervention is more impactful than no intervention.

Conclusions:

Educational interventions are effective in improving community attitudes in HEC-prone areas like BNP.
While information on elephant cognition did not yield significantly different results compared to general conservation education, the overall impact of education is significant.
Further research may explore specific content elements that could further enhance conservation education effectiveness.