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The Role of Local Taboos in Conservation and Management of Species: The Radiated Tortoise in Southern Madagascar

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dc.contributor.author Lingard, Marlene en_US
dc.contributor.author Raharison, Nivo en_US
dc.contributor.author Rabakonandrianina, Elisabeth en_US
dc.contributor.author Rakotoarisoa, Jean-Aime en_US
dc.contributor.author Elmqvist, Thomas en_US
dc.date.accessioned 2009-07-31T15:00:17Z
dc.date.available 2009-07-31T15:00:17Z
dc.date.issued 2003 en_US
dc.date.submitted 2009-01-16 en_US
dc.date.submitted 2009-01-16 en_US
dc.identifier.uri https://hdl.handle.net/10535/3368
dc.description.abstract "The radiated tortoise, Geochelone radiata, is endemic to the semi-arid region of southern Madagascar. Despite formal protection by law since 1960 and listing in CITES since 1975, tortoise populations have been reported to be in rapid decline, mainly due to illegal harvesting for food and commercial trade. The Tandroy people, inhabitants of the Androy region, which covers approximately half the tortoise distribution range, do not, however, exploit the species. The Tandroy prohibition against tortoise consumption is expressed as a taboo or fady. The aim of this study was to document the narratives, rules and enforcement mechanisms linked to the taboo, and to assess the potential role of the taboo for the protection and management of the radiated tortoise. Interviews revealed that the Tandroy perception of the animal as dirtyunderlies the Tandroy taboo, although one informant suggested that the taboo once originated in notions of sacredness. Estimated tortoise abundances ranged from 20 tortoises per ha in an area with no harvesting to 0.6 per ha in an area where a significant proportion of residents were reported to violate the taboo. Infrastructure changes and increasing numbers of immigrants to the region are sources of new pressures on the tortoise." en_US
dc.subject conservation en_US
dc.subject wildlife en_US
dc.subject rules en_US
dc.subject monitoring and sanctioning en_US
dc.subject enforcement en_US
dc.subject indigenous institutions en_US
dc.title The Role of Local Taboos in Conservation and Management of Species: The Radiated Tortoise in Southern Madagascar en_US
dc.type Journal Article en_US
dc.type.published published en_US
dc.coverage.region Africa en_US
dc.coverage.country Madagascar en_US
dc.subject.sector Social Organization en_US
dc.subject.sector Wildlife en_US
dc.identifier.citationjournal Conservation & Society en_US
dc.identifier.citationvolume 1 en_US
dc.identifier.citationnumber 2 en_US
dc.identifier.citationmonth July en_US


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