A qualitative examination of the social practices and representations towards a species of endangered tortoise

Abstract

Context Understanding how people view, think and talk about wildlife and the link between wildlife and human behaviour are important for wildlife management to be effective. In this paper, we used the notion of social representations to understand people’s behaviour towards wildlife. We qualitatively studied social representations relating to the keeping in captivity of the endangered tortoise Testudo graeca in south-east Spain. Aims The aims were to elucidate social representations towards the spur-thighed tortoise, and to understand the link between social representation and the motivations for collecting and keeping tortoises in captivity. We discuss the conservation implications of social representation towards this tortoise species and provide some management recommendations. Methods We carried out 13 in-depth interviews with rural–agrarian, urban and neorural dwellers who kept tortoises in captivity to elucidate social representations towards the spur-thighed tortoise and to understand the link between social representation and the motivations for collecting and keeping tortoises. Key results The discourse analysis shows that the social representations of this tortoise as a tameable animal, pet and safeguarded animal co-exist in south-east Spain. Conclusions The fact that the social reality in south-east Spain has changed from a social–agrarian society to an urban and neorural society seems to explain these social representations. The conservationist discourse espoused by some respondents partly explains why the habit of keeping tortoises in captivity has prevailed despite social changes in recent decades and this activity being prohibited since the 1970s. Implications Our findings reveal the utility of the social representation notion in understanding the social dimensions of wildlife conservation and its applicability to wildlife management.