A coruja suindara (Tyto furcata) e seus estigmas

Abstract

The Barn Owl (Tyto furcata) has important attributions for the environment and for the population, it is a predatory species of animals seen as “pests” in urban areas, leading to a decrease in communicable diseases from rodents and insects to humans. Due to increasing urbanization and the destruction of the natural environment, the occupation of wild animals in urban areas has become increasingly present, with this, the misinformation about the species causes the creation of stories that can trigger decline and mistreatment about these animals. The present research aimed to analyze the knowledge of the visitors of a square in Belém do Pará about the Barn Owl, as well as to inform the population about how popular beliefs can affect the life of the species, discussing the subject in an informal way. 60 people were interviewed in April 2022, data collection was carried out through a questionnaire with 5 pre-prepared questions, and, at the end, each interviewee received an informative folder about the species. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results revealed that the population interviewed does not have adequate knowledge about the Barn Owl, linking the species to unpleasant stories. It is concluded that most of the interviewees had a wrong perception about the species, not identifying its importance to the environment, contributing to the emergence of popular beliefs that surround this animal.