As wolf ( Canis lupus) populations recover in Wisconsin (U.S.A.), their depredations on livestock, pets, and hunting dogs have increased. We used a mail-back survey to assess the tolerance of 535 rural citizens of wolves and their preferences regarding the management of "problem" wolves. Specifically, we tested whether people who had lost domestic animals to wolves or other predators were less tolerant of wolves than neighboring residents who had not and whether compensation payments improved tolerance of wolves. We assessed tolerance via proxy measures related to an individual's preferred wolf population size for Wisconsin and the likelihood she or he would shoot a wolf. We also measured individuals' approval of lethal control and other wolf-management tactics under five conflict scenarios. Multivariate analysis revealed that the strongest predictor of tolerance was social group. Bear ( Ursus americanus) hunters were concerned about losing valuable hounds to wolves and were more likely to approve of lethal control and reducing the wolf population than were livestock producers, who were more concerned than general residents. To a lesser degree, education level, experience of loss, and gender were also significant. Livestock producers and bear hunters who had been compensated for their losses to wolves were not more tolerant than their counterparts who alleged a loss but received no compensation. Yet all respondents approved of compensation payments as a management strategy.Our results indicate that deep-rooted social identity and occupation are more powerful predictors of tolerance of wolves than individual encounters with these large carnivores.El Impacto de la Depredación y de los Pagos Compensatorios en las Actitudes de Ciudadanos hacia Lobos Resumen: A medida que las poblaciones de lobo ( Canis lupus) se recuperan en Wisconsin (E. U. A.), ha aumentado su depredación sobre ganado, mascotas y perros de caza. Utilizamos una encuesta por correo para evaluar la tolerancia de 535 ciudadanos hacia los lobos y sus preferencias en relación a la gestión de "lobos problema." Específicamente, probamos si la gente que había perdido animales domésticos a raíz de lobos u otros depredadores era menos tolerante a los lobos que los residentes que no habían perdido animales domésticos y si los pagos compensatorios mejoraron la tolerancia hacia los lobos. Evaluamos la tolerancia usando medidas relacionadas con el tamaño poblacional de lobos preferida para Wisconsin y la probabilidad de que un individuo disparase contra un lobo. También medimos la aprobación de individuos del uso de control letal y otras tácticas de manejo de lobos bajo cinco escenarios de conflicto. El análisis multivariado reveló que el predictor más robusto de tolerancia fue el grupo social. Los cazadores de osos ( Ursus americanus) estuvieron más preocupados por la pérdida de perros valiosos por lobos y tendieron a aprobar el control letal y la reducción de la población de lobos en mayor proporción que los productores de ganado, que mostraron más preocupación...
Conservationists are missing opportunities to protect species at mass tourism sites where wildlife itself is not the main tourist attraction. At such locations are ‘incidental ecotourists’, i.e. tourists with multiple interests who encounter wildlife or fragile ecosystems inadvertently. A case study from Lamanai Archaeological Reserve, Belize, reveals the motivations of incidental ecotourists and their impact on an endangered primate species, the black howler monkey, Alouatta pigra. Four hundred and seventy-one visitors were surveyed to assess their travel goals, conservation commitments, and reactions to viewing howler monkeys. Data were also collected on the behaviour of tourists and monkeys during encounters. More intense tourist interactions with howler monkeys were correlated with the number of tourists and the duration of the encounter; guided parties interacted more intensely than unguided parties. Tourists were largely unaware that these interactions may harm the howler monkeys. Qualitative observations of howler response to tourists suggest short- and long-term negative impacts. These impacts could be mitigated through more effective guide training, limiting tourist group size, and increasing entrance fees at the Reserve. Improving environmental education may reduce impacts and motivate some tourists to become advocates for conservation of endangered species.
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