This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

peer-reviewed publication

trusted source

proofread

Flagship individual animals found to boost conservation efforts

Flagship individuals can boost conservation
Lua the Antillean manatee. Credit: L Candisani

"Flagship" individual animals like Cecil the lion or Freya the walrus can boost conservation, new research suggests.

Much-loved species like pandas and are widely used in conservation campaigns. However, a new study argues that individual animals or plants can also be used as flagships, with to raise awareness and mobilize .

The recent outcry over the felling of the "Sycamore Gap" tree in the UK demonstrates the power of individual plants or animals in public opinion.

"Flagship individuals typically share some common characteristics," said lead author Ivan Jarić, from the University of Paris-Saclay in France and Czech Academy of Sciences.

"They mostly belong to charismatic species, and they often have some particular individual characteristics that make them appealing."

"They frequently interact with humans, and they typically have unique life stories, such as tragic fate."

"By forming connections with people and generating empathy, such individuals can encourage engagement and behavioral change, attract donations and even spark policy changes."

The paper highlights examples including Lua the Antillean manatee—a species severely depleted by habitat loss and hunting in Brazil.

In 1994, Lua—an orphaned calf—was among the first manatees released in a new reintroduction program.

"Lua quickly became the symbol of the program, being used in local media and community activities to gain ," said Iran Normande, from the Federal University of Alagoas in Brazil, one of the authors of the study."

"Because of her docile nature and willingness to approach humans and boats, Lua gave many people their first contact with a wild manatee."

"This helped to create a local sustainable tourism industry that currently supports up to 400 families."

"Lua—now 'middle-aged' at 31—was the first released manatee to successfully breed in the wild, and has had six calves."

However, this example also highlights the potential downside of flagship individuals, as some visitors have fed Lua potentially harmful things including beer and fried fish.

"If properly implemented, the promotion of flagship individuals can produce substantial benefits for conservation from local to global scales," said Dr. Sarah Crowley from the University of Exeter, another co-author of the study.

"This needs to be done with care—both to avoid harm to the individual, and to prevent the spread of false or distorted information."

"More research is now needed to identify how to promote flagship individuals in a way that generates wider support for conservation, attracts new audiences and limits any potential harm."

The work is published in the journal Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.

More information: Ivan Jarić et al, Flagship individuals in biodiversity conservation, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1002/fee.2599

Citation: Flagship individual animals found to boost conservation efforts (2023, October 12) retrieved 7 March 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2023-10-flagship-individual-animals-boost-efforts.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Study identifies boat strikes as a growing cause of manatee deaths in Belize

52 shares

Feedback to editors