Community attitudes towards bears, bear bile use, and bear conservation in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR

Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine
Darunee Sukanan, Brandon P Anthony

Abstract

Bear bile is widely believed across much of Asia to have medicinal properties. As a result, great numbers of bears have been poached from the wild and numerous bear farms have been set up to drain the animals' bile on a regular basis. Although most such farms are now illegal, they continue to exist in countries such as Lao PDR. A new bear sanctuary is under construction in Luang Prabang in the northern part of the country with the aim of providing shelter to bears rescued from these farms. Understanding the level and nature of local communities' support for this sanctuary is vital for the long-term success of conservation efforts in the area, including outreach. This research, drawing from both ethnozoological and conservation frameworks, comprises a household survey (n = 263) administered in five villages surrounding the sanctuary and in-depth interviews conducted with key community leaders and institutional representatives. The questionnaire assessed local socio-economic status and attitudes towards bears, bear bile use, and bear conservation in general. Respondents have generally positive attitudes towards bears and bear conservation. Age, gender, ethnicity, village, and household size have significant influence on attitudes...Continue Reading

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Apr 25, 2020·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Elizabeth Oneita Davis, Jenny Anne Glikman

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