Capturing community behavior towards fruit bats conservation in South Sulawesi
Maulany R.I.(a*), Gautama R.D. (b), Dassir M.(a), Nasri, N.(a)

a) Forest Conservation and Ecotourism Laboratory, Forestry Faculty, Universitas Hasanuddin
Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan Km. 10, Makassar (South Sulawesi) 90245
*risma.maulany[at]unhas.ac.id
b) Postgraduate Program in Forestry Faculty, Universitas Hasanuddin

Abstract

Fruit bats have important roles in the ecosystem serving not only as pollinator agents for various high economic values plants but also acting as seed disperser for many plants in the forests. Ecosystem services provided by the bats are still overlooked while the animals also experienced intensive hunting. Lack of knowledge on the importance of the fruit bats in the ecological chain combined with poor public perception of the animals have contributed to the decline of . This research is aimed to study on knowledge, experiences, perceptions, and awareness of community on fruit bats and analyze the relationship of the four aspects towards the conservation behavior of community on fruit bats in three different regencies of South Sulawesi (Maros, Sinjai and Soppeng).
In-depth interviews using questionnaire to community living nearby the roosting habitat of fruit bats were carried out to collect data on knowledge, experience, perception, awareness and conservation behavior. Correlation analysis of Spearman rank was employed to determine the relationships between variables measured with the conservation behavior of community towards fruit bats. The results showed that of 90 respondents interviewed in the three regencies have indicated differences on the level of knowledge, experience, perception, awareness, and behavior. It was found that Maros had the highest percentage related with conservation (78%) followed by Soppeng (76%) while Sinjai had the lowest (64%). Meanwhile, the analysis between all variables towards the conservation behavior had shown that there were differences between variables tested on conservation behavior occurred in the three regencies.

Keywords: fruit bats- community perception- bat conservation

Topic: Biodiversity and Climate Change