CULTURAL CONSUMPTION AND SOCIAL PERCEPTION TOWARDS FRESHWATER TURTLES IN THE FLORA AND FAUNA PROTECTION AREA OF LAGUNA DE TÉRMINOS, CAMPECHE, MÉXICO

Abstract

A study was carried out in three communities located in the Flora and Fauna Protection Area Laguna de Términos in the state of Campeche (APFFLT, for its initials in Spanish), México, with the aim of describing the cultural consumption, use and social perception of inhabitants towards freshwater turtles. Fifty-four (54) interviews were applied and three participative workshops directed towards key informants. The presence of eight species is recognized. The only use identified was as food, for which seven species are used. The Easter Week season is when they are highly consumed because they are considered “white meat” and their local commerce is quite common. The turtle most appreciated because of flavor is jicotea (Trachemys scripta), followed by the white turtle (Dermatemys mawii) preferred for its size, while the mojina turtle (Rhinoclemnys areolata) is the only one that is not consumed. The sales price varies from one hundred to one thousand Mexican pesos (5 to 50 USD). The words related with turtle are: food, broth, stew, business, pity, fear, bite and curiosity. It is necessary to perform population estimations of the freshwater turtle species to understand the impact of the consumption, and to implement actions of vigilance and monitoring, as well as environmental education campaigns and legal breeding.