Confronting cultures: northern Madagascar’s cultural beliefs and the relationship of owls and humans

Owls are often associated with superstitions and witchcraft in various cultures, leading to conflicts between human communities and these birds. This study, conducted in 2023 across 16 villages in Andapa, a northern district of Madagascar, aimed to investigate the challenges of human-owl coexistence. It specifically explored the cultural beliefs and conflicts driving the motivation to kill owls, particularly during witch-hunting incidents between 2021 and 2022. The findings revealed a prevalent belief among the local population in the close association between witches and owls. Both villagers and witches demonstrated a lack of understanding of environmental laws and regulations, intensifying motivations for owl hunting. The limited awareness of the legal consequences of hunting owls among the local population, combined with a lack of understanding among witches about the law prohibiting the keeping of owls as domestic companions, significantly contributes to this issue. Furthermore, the analysis showed that individuals with strong traditional beliefs or who had encountered dead owls were more likely to engage in owl hunting. Conversely, those more educated, knowledgeable about wildlife protection laws, or aware of the ecological importance of owls were less likely to participate in such practices. This study underscores the urgent need to raise awareness of owls' ecological value, improve understanding of wildlife protection laws, and promote education to reduce owl-hunting behavior in the region.