Workforce Motivation at Malaysian Orangutan Conservation Centres
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.11113/sh.v16n2.2045Keywords:
Orangutan, motivation, workforce, rangers, conservationAbstract
Most conservation research and efforts focus on a targeted animal taxon and we often tend to forget about the human component in conservation work. It is often alleged that conservation work is in itself rewarding, rather than motivated by monetary gain. However, this remains anecdotal, and this study approaches this topic through qualitative analysis of the motivation of the workforce in orangutan conservation. The objective of this paper was to assess the driving motivations for conservation workers at three Malaysian ex-situ conservation facilities for orangutans. Using structured interviews and a thematic approach, we classified five main types of motivation amongst the workers. The “Environment/Surrounding” factor describing positive team work experiences emerged as the primary motivator for conducting this job, whereas “Monetary” and “Conservation” were similarly often mentioned as the second motivators. “Personal Development” and “Humanistic” factors were the third and least mentioned motivators, respectively. Our results indicate the importance of providing and maintaining a good work environment and relationship with co-workers, as well as adequate salaries to motivate the conservation workforce. The findings from this study could help the management of any conservation areas/centers to effectively manage and encourage their workforce towards a better care of captive animals
References
Balazs, E. (2016). From poaching to financing terrorism: thoughts on poaching endangering society. Journal of Eastern European Criminal Law 1, 190-200.
Bjorndal, D. (1998). Encouraging trend found in the number of green turtle nests at Tortuguero, Costa Rica. Velador, Spring, 2.
Bjorndal, K. A., Wetherall, J. A., Bolten, A. B., & Mortimer, J. A. (1999). Twenty‐six years of green turtle nesting at Tortuguero, Costa Rica: an encouraging trend. Conservation Biology, 13(1), 126-134.
Brouwer, R., Powe, N., Turner, R. K., Bateman, I. J., & Langford, I. H. (1999). Public attitudes to contingent valuation and public consultation. Environmental Values, 8(3), 325-347.
Burnard, P., Gill, P., Stewart, K., Treasure, E., & Chadwick, B. (2008). Analysing and presenting qualitative data. British Dental Journal, 204(8), 429.
Campbell, L. M., & Smith, C. (2006). What makes them pay? Values of volunteer tourists working for sea turtle conservation. Environmental Management, 38(1), 84-98.
Carr, N., & Cohen, S. (2011). The public face of zoos: Images of entertainment, education and conservation. Anthrozoös, 24(2), 175-189.
Charles, M. T. (1982). The Yellowstone ranger: the social control and socialization of federal law enforcement officers. Human Organization, 216-226.
Clark, J., Burgess, J., & Harrison, C. M. (2000). “I struggled with this money business”: respondents’ perspectives on contingent valuation. Ecological Economics, 33(1), 45-62.
Clements, R., Foo, R., Othman, S., Rahman, U., Mustafa, S. R. S., & Zulkifli, R. (2009). Islam, turtle conservation, and coastal communities. Conservation Biology, 23(3), 516-517.
Davis, J. T., Mengersen, K., Abram, N. K., Ancrenaz, M., Wells, J. A., & Meijaard, E. (2013). It’s not just conflict that motivates killing of orangutans. PLoS One, 8(10), e75373.
Dearborn, D. C., & Kark, S. (2010). Motivations for conserving urban biodiversity. Conservation Biology, 24(2), 432-440.
Fraenkel, J. R., Wallen, N. E., & Hyun, H. H. (2011). How to design and evaluate research in education: New York: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages.
Gaylard, A., & Ferreira, S. (2011). Advances and challenges in the implementation of strategic adaptive management beyond the Kruger National Park - making linkages between science and biodiversity management. Koedoe, 53, 52-59.
Ijeomah, H., & Ogbara, D. (2013). Challenges of Wildlife Management in Kainji Lake National Park, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Agriculture, Food and Environment, 9(1), 1-8.
IUCN. (2016). Bornean orangutan, Pongo pygmaeus. Retrieved from https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/17975/123809220
Jacobson, S. K., Carlton, J. S., & Monroe, M. C. (2012). Motivation and satisfaction of volunteers at a Florida natural resource agency. Journal of Park and Recreation Administration, 30(1), 51-67.
Kellert, S. R. (1982). Knowledge, affection and basic attitudes toward animals in American society: US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. Washington DC, Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service.
Locke, L. F. (1989). Qualitative research as a form of scientific inquiry in sport and physical education. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 60(1), 1-20.
Macfie, E. J., & Williamson, E. A. (2010). Best practice guidelines for great ape tourism: IUCN. IUCN, Gland Switzerland. IUCN/SSC Primate Specialist Group (PSG). 78.
Mohd-Azlan, J., & Engkamat, L. (2013). Camera trapping and conservation in Lanjak Entimau wildlife sanctuary, Sarawak, Borneo. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 61, 397-405.
Moreto, W. D., Lemieux, A. M., & Nobles, M. R. (2016). ‘It's in my blood now’: the satisfaction of rangers working in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. Oryx, 50(4), 655-663.
Moreto, W. D., Gau, J. M., Paoline, E. A., Singh, R., Belecky, M., & Long, B. (2017). Occupational motivation and intergenerational linkages of rangers in Asia. Oryx 53 (3), 1-10.
Nadkarni, N. M. (2004). Not preaching to the choir: Communicating the importance of forest conservation to nontraditional audiences. Conservation Biology, 18(3), 602-606.
Ogunjinmi, A., Umunna, M., & Ogunjinmi, K. (2008). Factors affecting job satisfaction of rangers in Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi, Nigeria. Journal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR), 8(2). DOI: 10.4314/jasr.v8i2.43332
Palmer, C. E., & Bryant, C. D. (1985). ‘Keeper’s of the King’s Deer: Game Warden’s and the Enforcement of Fish and Wildlife Law.’’ In The Rural Workforce: Non-Agricultural Occupations in America, edited by Clifton D. B, Donald J. S, James K. S, Jr., and William E. S. South Hadley, MA: Bergin and Harvey.111-137.
Ros, M., Schwartz, S. H., & Surkiss, S. (1999). Basic individual values, work values, and the meaning of work. Applied Psychology, 48(1), 49-71.
Sanborn, W. A., & Schmidt, R. H. (1995). Gender effects on views of wildlife professionals about wildlife management. Wildlife Society Bulletin (1973-2006), 23(4), 583-587.
Spira, C., Kirkby, A. E., & Plumptre, A. J. (2019). Understanding ranger motivation and job satisfaction to improve wildlife protection in Kahuzi–Biega National Park, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Oryx, 53(3), 460-468. doi:10.1017/S0030605318000856
Taylor, J. G., & Douglas, A. J. (1999). Diversifying natural resources value measurements: The Trinity River study. Society & Natural Resources, 12(4), 315-336.
Tella, A., Ayeni, C., & Popoola, S. (2007). Work motivation, job satisfaction, and organisational commitment of library personnel in academic and research libraries in Oyo State, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice, 9(2), 13.
Tribe, A., & Booth, R. (2003). Assessing the Role of Zoos in Wildlife Conservation. Human Dimensions of Wildlife, 8(1), 65-74. doi:10.1080/10871200390180163
Wilson, M. C., Chen, X.-Y., Corlett, R. T., Didham, R. K., Ding, P., Holt, R. D., Holyoak, M., Hu, G., Hughes, A.C., Jiang, L., Laurance,W.F., Liu, J., Pimm, S.L., Robinson, S.K., Russo, S.E., Si, X., Wilcove,D.S., Wu, J., Yu, M. (2016). Habitat fragmentation and biodiversity conservation: key findings and future challenges. Landscape Ecology, 31(2), 219-227. doi:10.1007/s10980-015-0312-3
Zohrabi, M. (2013). Mixed Method Research: Instruments, Validity, Reliability and Reporting Findings. Theory & Practice in Language Studies, 3(2). 254-262.
