The study explored the impact of a natural history film, “The Elephant Queen” (TEQ), on the attitudes of communities living near elephants in Southern Kenya. Human-elephant conflict poses a significant challenge to wildlife conservation, and while efforts have been made to mitigate conflict, few focus on fostering understanding and tolerance between humans and elephants. Researchers … [Read more…]
In the realm of conservation, the fate of many endangered species hinges not only on scientific assessments but also on public perception and support. However, a troubling phenomenon has emerged in recent years – the ‘beauty bias’ – where aesthetically pleasing species receive disproportionate attention compared to their less visually appealing counterparts. This bias has … [Read more…]
Dive into the world of shark fin consumption we uncover crucial insights in our latest study conducted in Singapore. Sharks, rays, and their cartilaginous relatives face significant threats globally, primarily due to overfishing driven by intricate market forces, including the demand for fins. Read it HERE Our study, centered around an online discrete choice experiment, … [Read more…]
It was great to have ABC cover some of my work exploring the role of documentaries in environmental awareness and action. It’s heartening to see discussions around the nuanced dynamics of positive and negative messaging in environmental storytelling. The collaborative effort to dissect the influence of renowned documentaries, such as those presented by David Attenborough, … [Read more…]
Just published in Conservation Biology a new study looking at whether species named after celebrities get more attention from the public. We examined species across different animal groups – including mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Here is what we found. Overall, species named after celebrities were very likely to have more page views … [Read more…]
LINK: https://gep.psychopen.eu/index.php/gep/article/view/11181 Changing public behaviour is an essential step for successful conservation, and can be achieved through effective use of message framing. However, its use in the conservation sector is not well-studied. We first performed a content analysis to assess what types of framing styles environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) often employ for their social media … [Read more…]
The unsustainable use of wildlife increases the risk of species extinction. In biodiversity-rich Indonesia, information on the scale of wildlife use is limited and requires further study. To address this, we explored the potential of text messaging (short message service; SMS) surveys to investigate levels and spatial patterns of domestic wildlife use, using songbird keeping … [Read more…]
Conservation efforts have long relied on flagship species to rally support and drive meaningful change. However, recent studies have shed light on the profound impact of individual organisms in this narrative. These extraordinary beings, with their unique traits and compelling life stories, have emerged as powerful catalysts in inspiring empathy and spurring action within the … [Read more…]
Below a summary of a newly published article in Orchids! Orchids, often called the pandas of the plant world due to their captivating appeal, share a fame disparity similar to flagship animal species in conservation. While well-known orchids like Vanilla, Phalaenopsis, and Dendrobium attract attention, lesser-known species struggle for recognition, resembling the preference for charismatic … [Read more…]
Breaking down language barriers is crucial for harnessing the full potential of non-native English speakers in the field of science. Unfortunately, the dominance of English as the universal language of science presents a significant challenge. Surprisingly, very few studies have explored how language barriers affect the career advancement of non-native English-speaking researchers.To address this gap, … [Read more…]