Beliefs, Taboos, Usages, and Health Perceptions Toward Wildlife Among Different Ethnicities in Tak and Mae Hong Son Provinces, Thailand

Abstract

This concurrent qualitative study studied wildlife beliefs, taboos, usages, and health perceptions among ten ethnic groups in four communities in Tak and Mae Hong Son, Thailand, from November 2020 to January 2021. Sixty-five respondents were selected for their extensive knowledge and active participation in wildlife culture and beliefs. Twenty (30.8%) participated in in-depth interviews (IDIs), while 45 (69.2%) participated in eight focused group discussions. The results showed that different ethnicities have different wildlife contact beliefs, taboos, usages, and health perceptions. Wildlife contact and consumption were thought to spread diseases, and cultural beliefs and taboos have helped some ethnic groups preserve nature and wildlife. Various ethnic groups have passed down traditions prohibiting the consumption of certain wild animals. The results may support developing disease prevention and intervention strategies to promote health literacy about wildlife contact risks by adapting villagers' socio-cultural beliefs and context characteristics by ethnicity.