Understanding the Human–Reptile Bond: An Exploratory Mixed-Methods Study
| Autor: | Alexandre Azevedo, Leonor Guimarães, Joel Ferraz, Martin Whiting, Manuel Magalhães-Sant’Ana |
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| Rok vydání: | 2022 |
| Předmět: | |
| Zdroj: | Anthrozoös. 35:755-772 |
| ISSN: | 1753-0377 0892-7936 |
| Popis: | Research Areas: Anthropology ; Environmental Sciences & Ecology ; Sociology ; Veterinary Sciences Owning reptiles (e.g., chelonians, lizards, and snakes) poses a great deal of challenges in terms of welfare and care, as well as conservation and environmental concerns. However, despite the large scale of the reptile trade, little is known about the motives for acquiring and keeping these animals. This research provides the first empirical investigation on the motives for owning reptiles as pets in Portugal as well as on the nature of the human–reptile bond. Using a mixed-methods approach, an online survey was used to gather the views and opinions of 220 reptile owners. Respondents described their affection toward reptiles using terms that denote affective states of increasing intensity: “to like”, “to love,” “fascination,” and “passion.” Four main categories of motivations for the long-term keeping of pet reptiles were identified: convenience, entertainment, companionship, and duty of care. Respondents perceived their pets as family members (64%) and as sentient beings, including the ability to feel “stress or fear” (≥ 80%) and “pain or discomfort” (≥74%). Snakes differed from lizards and chelonians in the sense that they were less frequently considered a “family member” (χ2(2) = 7.14, p = 0.03) and were perceived as less able to communicate (χ2(2) = 9.91, p |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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