A cultural consensus regarding the king vulture?: preliminary findings and their application to Mexican conservation

Research suggests a cultural consensus among local experts in southern Yucatán regarding the natural history of the king vulture (Sarcoramphus papa), a finding that could bridge local ecological knowledge and academic conservation strategies. The study, involving 66 forest workers—including hunters, loggers, and gum tappers—applied questionnaires to explore shared perceptions about the bird's behavior and ecology within Mexico’s largest tropical forest, including the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. By contrasting these local insights with scientific findings, the research highlights potential applications for integrating traditional knowledge into conservation programming, offering a novel approach to ecosystem management in the region.

Haenn, N., Schmook, B., Reyes, Y. M., & Calmé, S. (2014). A cultural consensus regarding the king vulture?: preliminary findings and their application to Mexican conservation. Ethnobiology and Conservation, 3. https://doi.org/10.15451/ec2014-1-3.1-1-15