Negative symbolism of wildlife shapes human–nature coexistence: The plight of owls in Nigeria

Abstract Human–wildlife coexistence in culturally diverse landscapes requires understanding how socio‐cultural processes shape perceptions and behaviours towards conservation‐priority species. This study examines perceptions, belief‐based uses and conservation attitudes towards owls in communities surrounding six Protected Areas in Nigeria, addressing key geographical and theoretical gaps in human–nature research in the Global South. Drawing on concepts of biophilia and biophobia, extinction of experience and cultural ecosystem services, we analyse how socio‐demographic factors influence negative perceptions and belief‐driven use, and how these, in turn, affect willingness to coexist with and protect owls. Using structural equation modelling and logistic regression on data from 1819 respondents, we find that negative perceptions, rooted in associations with witchcraft and misfortune, are widespread and vary across regions and demographic groups. Negative attitudes are strongest in more remote sites and among women ( β = −0.15, p < 0.001), individuals with lower levels of formal education ( β = 0.079, p = 0.003) and specific livelihood groups. Belief‐based use persists among traditional healers and hunters, reflecting the cultural embedding of owls within systems of meaning and practice. Importantly, perception is a strong predictor of conservation support ( β = 0.415), with more negative perceptions associated with reduced willingness to tolerate ( β = −2.30, p < 0.001) and protect owls ( β = −0.95, p < 0.001), while ecological knowledge mediates more positive attitudes towards tolerating ( β = 1.61, p < 0.001) and protection of owls ( β = 0.58, p = 0.04). Our findings show that reduced direct engagement with nature may allow fear‐based and symbolic narratives to persist, reinforcing negative perceptions and limiting coexistence. In doing so, the study advances theory by demonstrating that human–nature relationships are not universally biophilic but are relational and context‐dependent, shaped by the interaction between cultural and symbolic meanings, lived experience and socio‐economic conditions. These results highlight that effective conservation must engage not only with ecological knowledge but also with the cultural and emotional dimensions that shape how people interpret and respond to wildlife in human–dominated tropical landscapes. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.