The role of animal coloration in people’s willingness to protect animals was explored in this study. Children and youth in Slovakia were shown altered and unaltered images of aposematic (those with warning coloration) and cryptic animals. The results showed that participants were significantly more willing to protect aposematic animals over inconspicuous, cryptic animals. These findings, the authors suggest, indicate that the use of aposematic animals in conservation programs may increase their popularity and public support.

[Abstract excerpted from original source.]

“The perceived popularity of animals plays a crucial role in their support by the general public and consequently in the success of conservation efforts. We experimentally investigated with Slovak schoolchildren the role of animal coloration and basic human emotions in the willingness to protect animals. Both unaltered and experimentally manipulated pictures of aposematic animals increased perceived danger. Spiders and snakes were perceived as more dangerous/disgusting than other taxa, particularly birds and mammals. Children showed significantly a stronger willingness to protect aposematic animals over inconspicuous, cryptic animals. Perceived disgust and danger of animals negatively correlated with a willingness to protect them with females showing greater fear of animals than males. Our results suggest that the use of aposematic animals in conservation programs may increase their popularity and public support.”