Popular Perceptions of Bats Hinder Conservation Actions in Maranhão, Northern Brazil

Abstract

Background: Bats play an important role in the ecology of many environments, although the general lack of knowledge on the relevance of these animals hinders initiatives that contribute to the development of favorable attitudes and participative measures that promote the conservation of these animals and the ecosystems they inhabit. In the present study, 398 residents of eight neighborhoods of the town of Caxias in Maranhão, Brazil, were interviewed to verify their perceptions of bats.Methods: A total of 398 individuals were interviewed during the present study. The interviewees were between 17 and 91 years old, and two-thirds (263; 66%) were women, while the other 135 were men (34%).Results: Most of the interviewees described bats as ugly and disgusting animals that look like rats, feed primarily on fruit, and frighten people. These individuals also confirmed that bats are important for Nature and should be protected simply because they are living creatures. The analyses indicate a significant association between a fear of bats and the belief that all these animals are vampires, and also that women are more likely to have a fear of bats than men. There was also an association between a low education level and the belief that all bats are vampires.Conclusions: The present study provides important insights into the perception of bats by the local population, highlighting the prevalence of mythical beliefs, which hinder the implementation of effective conservation measures. The results of this study reinforce the need for initiatives in environmental education that provide more reliable information on the biology of bats and their ecological importance, thereby contributing to the conservation of bat diversity.