Urban sloths : public knowledge, opinions, and interactions

Pereira, K; Young, RJ; Boere, V; Silva, I

Abstract

Free-range sloths living in an urban environment are rare. In this study, the opinions, attitudes, and interactions with a population of Bradypus variegatus were investigated through short, structured interviews of people in the pubic square where the sloths live, in addition to informal,
opportunistic observations of human-sloth interactions. A questionnaire was applied to people in the square where the sloths reside, and informal, opportunistic observations of human-sloth interactions were made. 95% of respondents knew of the sloths’ existence in the square and 87.8% liked their presence. Opinions about population size differed greatly and younger people were concerned as to whether the square was an appropriate place for them. Some human-sloth interactions showed
the consequences of a lack of biological knowledge. People initiated all sloth-human interactions.
The fact that sloths are strictly folivorous has avoided interactions with humans and, consequently, mitigated any negative impacts of the human-animal interaction on their wellbeing. These results demonstrate that, while there is a harmonious relationship between people and sloths, actions in environmental education of the square’s public could be beneficial for the sloths.

Citation

Pereira, K., Young, R., Boere, V., & Silva, I. (2018). Urban sloths : public knowledge, opinions, and interactions. Animals, 8(6), #90. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8060090

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 7, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jun 8, 2018
• Publication Date: Jun 8, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jun 12, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 12, 2018
• Journal: Animals
• Publisher: MDPI
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 6
• Pages: #90
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8060090
• Publisher URL: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8060090
• Related Public URLs: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/animals