Toward Human-Carnivore Coexistence: Understanding Tolerance for Tigers in Bangladesh

Abstract

Fostering local community tolerance for endangered carnivores, such as tigers (Panthera tigris), is a core component of many conservation strategies. Identification of antecedents of tolerance will facilitate the development of effective tolerance-building conservation action and secure local community support for, and involvement in, conservation initiatives. We use a stated preference approach for measuring tolerance, based on the ‘Wildlife Stakeholder Acceptance Capacity’ concept, to explore villagers’ tolerance levels for tigers in the Bangladesh Sundarbans, an area where, at the time of the research, human-tiger conflict was severe. We apply structural equation modeling to test an a priori defined theoretical model of tolerance and identify the experiential and psychological basis of tolerance in this community. Our results indicate that beliefs about tigers and about the perceived current tiger population trend are predictors of tolerance for tigers. Positive beliefs about tigers and a belief that the tiger population is not currently increasing are both associated with greater stated tolerance for the species. Contrary to commonly-held notions, negative experiences with tigers do not directly affect tolerance levels; instead, their effect is mediated by villagers’ beliefs about tigers and risk perceptions concerning human-tiger conflict incidents. These findings highlight a need to explore and understand the socio-psychological factors that encourage tolerance towards endangered species. Our research also demonstrates the applicability of this approach to tolerance research to a wide range of socio-economic and cultural contexts and reveals its capacity to enhance carnivore conservation efforts worldwide.

Land‐sharing potential of large carnivores in human‐modified landscapes of western India

“…Landscapes with no wild prey presence (Athreya, Odden, Linnell, Krishnaswamy, & Karanth, ), or those with very low prey densities or diversity (Khorozyan, Ghoddousi, Soofi, & Waltert, ; Pimenta, Barroso, Boitani, & Beja, ), have frequently sustained carnivore populations because domestic livestock (as prey or as carrion) serves as a primary source for the wild carnivores in such regions. Livestock losses have sometimes been accepted (Inskip, Carter, Riley, Roberts, & MacMillan, ), or have resulted in retaliation especially if accompanied by attacks on humans (Carter & Linnell, ). At least one species of domestic prey was associated with the presence of each of the three carnivores in our study area.…”

Jaguar Persecution Without “Cowflict”: Insights From Protected Territories in the Bolivian Amazon

“…In addition, far more respondents in Tacana II said they had killed a jaguar than in Santa Rosa. An association between experiencing a wildlife attack and low tolerance of the species responsible has been shown with other large carnivores, like tigers (Inskip et al, 2016).…”

Community Opinions about African Wild Dog Conservation and Relocations near the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

“…Conservation of endangered species inhabiting community land is largely dependent on local people's knowledge and perception of the species, as this in turn influences their behaviour. The local people's perception on species management have been reported in several studies (Inskip et al, 2016;Liu et al, 2011;Schuette et al, 2013;Zimmermann et al, 2010).…”

“…Thus our finding is in support with our prediction that local knowledge on species under IUCN categories differ between gender and tribe (or location). Increased human settlement cause species extinctions and reduces interactions with people (Harihar, Ghosh-Harihar, & MacMillan, 2014;Inskip et al, 2016;Trouwborst, 2015). In contrast, IUCN categories of a species conservation status is solely based on the distribution of a species in a geographical location.…”

“…Little information is available to provide a clear understanding of the nature of the co-existence between wild dogs and humans. Humans may develop general opinions about any situation pertaining to them (Inskip, Carter, Riley, Roberts, & MacMillan, 2016;Linnell, Swenson, & Anderson, 2001;Løe & Røskaft, 2004). Based on this background, we tested the general hypothesis that local awareness of wild dogs influences human perceptions regarding the conservation status and translocation of this endangered species in the Serengeti ecosystem.…”