Conocimiento y usos de Odocoileus virginianus en Santo Domingo Tonalá, Oaxaca

Abstract

Traditional ecological knowledge involves local people’s beliefs and values, and also the ecology, conservation and sustainability importance. As part of this knowledge, mammals have been fundamental in the development of human groups because of their ecological, cultural and economic values. Traditional knowledge about mammals on a particular region can be obtained through ethnozoological studies, whose can contribute to set conservation and management strategies in benefit of local people and mammal species. An ethnozoological study about wild mammals was carried out in Santo Domingo Tonala, Oaxaca, during the first semester of 2011, where the white tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was the species with more stories, beliefs and uses among local people. Here we present the data obtained for this mammalian species, highlighting the importance of traditional knowledge for the fauna conservation.