Perceptions of the residents of the parish Atahualpa (Habaspamba), Pichincha-Ecuador in reference to the bats (order: Chiroptera)

Abstract

Although the bats play an important paper in the ecosystem dynamic, various human groups worldwide have generate prejudices against this animals, mainly for the little scientific information they have about this topic. Due by some anthropic activities that directly affect their natural habitats, their populations have been threatened and since they are considerate as uncharismatic species the projects for their conservations are scarce, a situations that compromises the stability of this mammals. The present work has as objective to analyze how it influences some sociodemographic characteristics (sex, age and the work activity) in the perception that the residents have of the Atahualpa (Habaspamba) parish about the bats that inhabit in this zone. For them, 100 semi-structured base surveys were applied, where it was found in a general way the 69% of the informants presented a rejection toward the bats and considerate the mentioned subgroups, only was found significant differences in the age. Nevertheless, the great majority consider it important to carry out projects related to conservation and/or to control of populations of these animals in the parish; this situation is favorable for the "Plan of action for the conservation of bats in Ecuador", since environmental education programs could be implemented aimed at the inhabitants of the parish.