Hidden charisma: ethno-ornithological knowledge and attitudes of local communities toward a threatened endemic pheasant in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Ethno-ornithological knowledge plays a key role in the conservation and management of birds and their habitats. However, the cultural roles and significance of birds in Ethiopia, as well as the threats to their survival within human cultural contexts remain largely underexplored. This study investigated the socio-economic, demographic, spatiotemporal and behavioral factors that influence the knowledge and attitude of local communities toward Harwood's Francolins in the Upper Blue Nile Basin. METHODS: We conducted a quantitative survey with questionnaires administered to 379 households, along with qualitative data collected in 2019-2020. We used logistic regression models in SPSS and thematic analysis to examine the determinants of respondents' knowledge and attitudes toward the species and triangulate the data by cross-referencing both methods. RESULTS: This study found that respondents' knowledge of and attitudes toward the status and value of Harwood's Francolin were influenced by marital status, distance and existing relationship (p < 0.05). Gender and length of residency (p < 0.05) were key factors influencing respondents' knowledge of hunting pressures on the species. Education level was the only factor influencing knowledge of indirect disturbances (p < 0.05). Given these threats, most respondents strongly supported the proposed conservation measures, with women showing higher support (p < 0.05). Education, livelihood and distance also significantly affected knowledge of conservation action (p < 0.05). This research shows that the bird's role in Ethiopian society extends beyond biology to symbolic, medicinal, and ritual significance. CONCLUSION: The local communities demonstrated extensive knowledge of and attitudes toward the status and value on Harwood's Francolin. The charismatic nature of the species, combined with its ecological and cultural relevance, fosters strong local support for its conservation, illustrating how closely biodiversity and human culture are linked. In addition, the local communities also acknowledged that the species has been declining and even extirpated in some previously known sites due to several anthropogenic disturbances. Consequently, conservation efforts should prioritize raising awareness among local communities about the restrictions on hunting and egg collection during breeding seasons, while also generating alternative income through the establishment of protected areas. In addition, we underscore the importance of gender-inclusive conservation strategies and recommend for comprehensive research on Harwood's Francolin and related pheasant species, as well as other wildlife, within the context of Ethiopia's cultural and social systems.