Chelonian consumption in the nukini indigenous land – Serra do Di-visor – Acre – Brazil

The traditional and indigenous populations of the Serra do Divisor National Park use chelonians as a subsistence food resource, although in some cases unsustainably, which compromises both the conservation of these species and the food security of the human populations living in the area. Despite this issue, there are few ethnobiological studies published on the use of these animals in the region. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the species of chelonians consumed by the Nukini and Nawa indigenous communities in the Serra do Divisor National Park, in the state of Acre, by applying semi-structured questionnaires to identify the profile of consumers and the species most commonly consumed. This evaluation aims to support possible future conservation actions and the sustainable use of this important game meat resource. The results showed that chelonians are consumed not only as a source of food, but also for medicinal purposes, demonstrating the socio-economic and cultural importance of the group for local communities. The most commonly consumed species was the yellow-legged turtle (Chelonoidis denticulatus). A significant percentage of those interviewed said they consume these animals without the need for subsistence, further highlighting the importance of conservation efforts for this group in the region.