Relação etnobiológica entre os moradores da comunidade São Luís e o jacaretinga (Caiman crocodilus) no município de Pedro II-PI

Abstract

The various ways of connection between man and other animals are currently expressed in significant and stimulating discussions that build the framework for debates. Traditionally, this relationship has changed and recent ways of discussing the topic have appeared as an agenda in the evaluation of the formation of scientific knowledge. Thus, situations arise that deserve a thorough investigation of how this ethnobiological relationship occurs. Against the proximity and economic and subsistence relations that the São Luís community, located in the municipality of Pedro II-PI, has with the Capivara River, interactions between residents and the animals that inhabit the place are inevitable. Among the animals that use the river as a space for survival, there is a resident population of jacaretinga. However, issues involving residents and alligators have raised doubts about the type of relationship between both (residents and alligators). In view of the conflicting ethnobiological context, in which there is little research addressing this issue in the central-northern region of Piauí, this work is ready to conduct a survey in order to understand the harmonious and disharmonious relationships between residents of the São Luís Community and the alligators. who live on the Capivara River, located near to the community. The research was carried out in the São Luís community, which is on the margins of the former PI 216 BR 404, located in the municipality of Pedro II, Piauí. The research was carried out through the application of semi-structured questionnaires with the residents of the community and later it was analyzed according to the ethnobiological knowledge about the alligators. A total of 30 residents of the São Luís community were interviewed, of which 60% were male and 40% female. The interviewees have a good knowledge about the cycles and the biodiversity of the jacaretingas, such as habits of reproduction, sightings in relation to the time of day, their displacement in times of drought. In addition, 60% recognize the alligator as being an animal of the nature or what they always mentioned to be brave and ferocious animal. Regarding the classification and naming of alligators by the residents, 83% called the correct name, another 4% said they called alligators a crocodile. About the use of some part of the alligator to cure illnesses, 67% have heard of the use of the alligator as medicine or was used by them, 33% are unaware of the use of the alligator as a cure for some illness. Regarding the non-presence of jacareting in the community, 80% said that it would not be better with the absence of jacareting in the region. 57% stated that such coexistence is not possible, which can be explained by the alligator having the stereotype of a dangerous and violent animal. In view of all this, the research achieved what was proposed, clarifying several themes that had not yet been addressed in the area of ethnobiology in the Pedro II - PI region.