Análise do conhecimento dos visitantes de um Parque Urbano sobre a vida selvagem nativa: seu perfil influencia neste entendimento?

Abstract

Ethnozoology is a very important area of study that could help better understand the interactions and knowledge of human communities in relation to other animals. This knowledge may vary due to cultural issues in the region, as well as social characteristics of the individual, such as: age, educational level and frequency of visits to green areas. Through studies with these communities can obtain information on the fauna, relevant to conservation. The Parque do Cocó is a conservation unit of the State Park type, located in the municipality of Fortaleza-CE, possessing a rich native fauna and several associated environmental problems, such as the cats present in the place. The present study aimed to evaluate if the knowledge about this problem and the faunistic diversity of Cocó varied in relation to the profile of the visitors. The data were collected between September and October 2018 using a structured questionnaire applied with 126 Park visitors. It was observed that the visitors know relatively little about the fauna of the Parque Estadual do Cocó and usually find few animals during the activities realized in the place. No relationship was found between the knowledge with age and frequency of visitation, besides the level of schooling also did not influence the correct recognition of the cats as an environmental problem of the Park. Possibly, more direct alternatives to inform the visitors about the fauna that compose the Park can bring more positive results than just the sightings made by them. And environmental education activities can increase awareness about the impact of abandoned cats in the Park, thus also helping to preserve native species.