Ophidiophobia, myth generation, and human perceptions: Implications for snake conservation in a typical savanna community of northern Ghana
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Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Taylor & Francis Group
Abstract
Snakes have fascinated and terrified humans throughout history.
Worldwide, innate fear (ophidiophobia), culturally-founded superstition, and myths have caused pervasive snake persecution, snakebite
mismanagement, human injuries, and fatalities, particularly in the
tropics. We analyzed 20 common snake myths narrated by 934 respondents inhabiting a typical rural savanna community of northern Ghana.
The myths summarized perceived, self-assessed knowledge about
snakes and were evaluated in their zoo-ecological contexts versus
their folkloristic explanatory origins. Only eight snake myths (~40%)
had any justifiable scientific basis, partially representing misinterpretations among predominantly male, less-educated respondents.
Contrastingly, 70% of the myths were largely rooted in ophidiophobia,
representing a major driver of human-wildlife conflict and indiscriminate snake persecution. To promote wildlife-friendly perceptions and
behavior toward snakes and their conservation, we recommend innovative gap-bridging conservation education and public awareness that
reconciles myths and realities about snakes, thus reducing snakebite
incidences, mortality, and widespread persecution and killing of
snakes.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Beliefs, folklore, psychology, self-assessed knowledge, snake fear, West Africa, zoo-ecology