Ethnozoology and the Okapi

Ethnozoology and the Okapi
The STory of The ‘foreST Giraffe’
Dr. Shane Mc Guinness
Overview
• The value of nature
• Animals and culture: Ethnozoology
• The Okapi
• Activities….
Ethnozoology
Curriculum Links
SESE History
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Strand Unit: Games & pastimes in the past
Strand Unit: Feasts & festivals in the past
Strand Unit: Myths and legends
Strand Unit: African peoples
SESE Geography
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Strand Unit: People & places in other areas
Strand Unit: People & other lands
SESE Science
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Strand Unit: Plants & animals/Plant & animal life
The Value of Nature
• Use value
• Natural resources
• Ecosystem services
US$ 125 TRILLION
• Non-use value
• a.k.a intrinsic value
• Things we cannot
readily value
monetarily
CULTURE & PLEASURE
Ethnozoology
Ethnoecology is based on the assumption that the
environmental interactions of human beings are greatly
influenced by thought, knowledge, and language. In the
context of, and in response to, environmental stimuli, these
influencing factors interact to form a world view that strongly
affects how humans act.
- Brosius et al. 1986
Ethnozoology frames this in the context of animals
Ethnozoology
• Asian fauna and flora
Ganesha – Hindu culture
- “Big ears to hear the worlds problems”
- “Four arms to control earth, wind, fire and
water”
- “Necklace holds the seeds of life”
- “Trunk curves to show there is away out of
problems”
Chinese New Year
- Heavily influenced by native
fauna
- Embedded in historical culture
- Influences current view of
wildlife
- May soon aid conservation
Ethnozoology
• Irish native fauna
•
•
•
•
•
Hawthorn – Meeting place of the fairies
Yew tree – grave yards, superstition, war
Red deer – Native but dwindling (Oisín = young deer)
Foxes – Banshee calls
Samhain festival – Celebration of harvest. Respect of the
seasons
• Place names – Cill dara, Eochaill (Youghal), Clonskeagh
Most focuses on plants however: Ethnobotany
Why?
Ethnozoology
• Modern media
Ethnozoological influence on comic books – arachnids alone!
Why are these important?
• Nature as ‘other’
• Ideological separation of nature and humans
• Ethnozoology reiterates the connections that once
existed
• “Back-casting”- assessing how we valued, to value
again
Non-use valuation  respect  protection
Activity
ACtivity
Task 1:
• As tables, choose an Irish plant/animal of cultural
significance
• Discuss the following and list;
• Cultural importance
• Biological importance
• Main threats to it
The Story of the forest giraffe
The
Okapi
Okapi
(Okapia johnstoni)
• Large even-toed mammal
• Most closely related to giraffe,
although colouration confusing
• Central African forest
• DRC
• Uganda (extirpated)
• Anywhere between 10,000-50,000
• Extremely elusive
• Near Threatened (IUCN)
• Currently threatened by:
• Illegal logging and mining
• Hunting
• Internal armed conflict
The
The Legend
Legend
• Cultural significance
History
of its discovery
discovery
• African mammals – very easy to see – some known for millennia
• Why not so for Okapi?
Cultural
importance
Cultural
Importance
Modern Culture
• Modern culture
ACtivity
Task 2:
• Come up with a superhero for your species!
• Think of the characteristics of your species and its cultural
value
• How you would relate this to a younger audience?
• How would you communicate the concept of adaptations?
Resources
Teaching Resources
• OSI Mapviewer – overlay of historical and present
• http://www.forestryfocus.ie/
Vocabulary
- Culture
- Non-use value
- Ecosystem service
- Native
- Adaptation
- Mutation