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Knowledge and perceptions of the southern river otter (Lontra provocax), an elusive endangered species in Tierra del Fuego (Argentina)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 February 2025

Alfredo Ñ Claverie Open the ORCID record for Alfredo Ñ Claverie [Opens in a new window] ,
Christopher B Anderson Open the ORCID record for Christopher B Anderson [Opens in a new window] ,
Agustina C Di Gallo Open the ORCID record for Agustina C Di Gallo [Opens in a new window]  and
Alejandro EJ Valenzuela Open the ORCID record for Alejandro EJ Valenzuela [Opens in a new window]
Alfredo Ñ Claverie*
Affiliation:
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (ICPA), Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego (UNTDF), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Christopher B Anderson
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (ICPA), Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego (UNTDF), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina Centro Austral de Investigaciones Científicas (CADIC), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Agustina C Di Gallo
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (ICPA), Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego (UNTDF), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
Alejandro EJ Valenzuela
Affiliation:
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina Instituto de Ciencias Polares, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (ICPA), Universidad Nacional de Tierra del Fuego (UNTDF), Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina Otter Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Gland, Switzerland
*
Corresponding author: Alfredo Ñ Claverie; Email: aclaverie@untdf.edu.ar
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Summary

The elusive southern river otter (Lontra provocax; huillín in Spanish) is critically endangered in the Argentine portion of Tierra del Fuego, and low social awareness may be one of the major threats to its conservation. Our survey of local residents’ knowledge and valuation of the huillín showed that only 14% recognized photographs of the species, almost half did not know that it is endangered and most erroneously thought it was an introduced species. Greater knowledge about the huillín was related to higher respondent education levels. Younger and more knowledgeable residents valued the species more for ecological and relational reasons; its instrumental value was considered least important. More communication should be targeted at older people and groups not directly interacting with nature via informal education methods, including combining positive messages about the huillín and other native species with ongoing outreach efforts warning about biological invasions. Understanding perceptions and valuations of biodiversity can make conservation efforts more effective and inclusive.

Keywords

Ecosystem serviceshuillíninterdisciplinaritynature’s contributions to peoplePatagoniasociocultural valuation
Type
Report
Information
Environmental Conservation , First View , pp. 1 - 7
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Foundation for Environmental Conservation

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