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What is the context of this research?

Conservation psychology aims to improve wildlife protection by studying people’s perceptions and attitudes towards animal welfare. Our previous research has explored how representations of great apes in the media can negatively impact conservation efforts, and how subtle changes in communication about animals can boost conservation support. However, such studies have only been done in Western populations.



We are focused on protecting bonobos, a great ape species found only in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To protect this species, we want to explore these same questions of wildlife perceptions among the Congolese, an underrepresented population in psychology, but the population most capable of making powerful, impactful decisions on the future of the bonobos.

What is the significance of this project?

Wildlife destruction is increasing, yet support for conservation is decreasing. The success of any conservation effort has to do with how information is conveyed and how actions are incentivized. What makes a conservation effort successful will vary from population to population. Plenty of research has been done among Americans to determine what type of messaging best increases conservation support. However, little has been done to evaluate if these same strategies are effective among the populations closest to the species in question. This is the first study of its kind to apply psychological research to improving conservation programs in Central Africa. We hope to extend the results of this study to improving conservation efforts for other wildlife causes around the world.

What are the goals of the project?

Our overarching goal is to improve support for bonobo conservation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We plan to do this by:



1) determining quantitative differences between how Congolese populations and Western populations think about wildlife and conservation.



2) designing evidence-based communication techniques to encourage conservation practices among the Congolese, and evaluating their effectiveness.



3) using results to improve the educational outreach program among existing bonobo welfare and conservation organizations.



To accomplish these goals, we will use methods adapted from developmental psychology and behavioral economics. We will work with our long time partner Lola Ya Bonobo, a sanctuary for rescued orphaned bonobos located in Kinshasa, the capital of the Congo.