The knowledge of university students from Santana do Ipanema about the use of tortoise in the diet

Abstract

In terms of human adaptive strategies, food adaptations stand out, with animals being one of the main permanent practices. In time, food preferences were transformed into eating habits that were passed down from generation to generation. The use of chelonians of the Chelonoidis species in the human diet is common in the Amazon (Northern Brazil), as well as in the city of Santana do Ipanema, in the State of Alagoas (Northeastern Brazil), where their consumption is associated with cultural practices which are gradually being forgotten. Aiming to raise the knowledge of the university population of Santana do Ipanema about the use of tortoises as a food source, as well as how this information is passed on, the research was carried out among university students through the use of a Google Form. 108 students participated in this research. Regarding knowledge about the dietary use of tortoise, 63% said they were aware of this habit and had acquired this information from grandparents, parents and uncles/aunts(36.76%). Only 8.33% of the participants had already consumed tortoise meat. Regarding the continuation of this eating habit to future generations, 67.60% answered no, with only 19.81% saying it was for the preservation of the species. Of the students who answered yes, 28.57% agreed with this habit for dietary diversification purposes, 37.15% because it is part of the culture and 9.71% cited the preservation of the species. The transmission of cultural knowledge tends to be vertical and consumption habits are low among the interviewed population.