Historically, interactions of indigenous peoples with the Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) have involved a mixture of fear and awe: fear of its hunting prowess--that the powerful raptor would see their young children or pets or domesticated animals as potential prey, and awe of its strength—so much so that the bird's feathers and talons have been coveted by many as symbols of power. Unfortunately, at this point, neither fear nor awe can effectively protect this species. Some native communities have encouraged Harpy Eagle conservation through education, through the involvement of indigenous communities in monitoring activities, and through financial rewards for protecting nesting sites, which have led more members of the scientific community to visit critical habitat. These local monitors and visiting researchers are ideally positioned to assess key aspects of resource use and ecological resilience. Hopefully, the results of studies on wildlife harvesting and management among indigenous villages in the Rupununi of Guyana discussed in this symposium will shed light even here.
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