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Faull J, Conteddu K, Griffin LL, Amin B, Smith AF, Haigh A, Ciuti S. Do human-wildlife interactions predict offspring hiding strategies in peri-urban fallow deer? ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231470. [PMID: 38511083 PMCID: PMC10951722 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Human activities can induce significant behavioural changes in wildlife. Often explored through extractive interactions (e.g. hunting) that can favour certain behavioural traits, the implications of non-extractive ones, such as wildlife feeding, remain understudied. Research shows that people tend to favour bolder individuals within populations despite their dynamics and consequences being unclear. Using fallow deer in a peri-urban environment, we studied whether mothers that show reduced fear of humans and consistently approach them for food adopt weaker anti-predator strategies by selecting less concealed fawning bedsites closer to human hotspots. This would provide the advantage of additional feeding opportunities in comparison with shyer mothers while keeping their fawns close. Our dataset encompassed 281 capture events of 172 fawns from 110 mothers across 4 years. Surprisingly, mothers that regularly accepted food from humans selected more concealed bedsites farther from human hotspots, giving their offspring better protection while also benefitting from additional food during lactation. Our results show behavioural adaptations by a subset of females and, for the first time, link the tendency to approach humans and strategies to protect offspring. Given previous findings that these begging females also deliver heavier fawns at birth, our research further investigates human-wildlife feeding interactions and their behavioural implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Faull
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES, University College Dublin, Dublin4, Ireland
| | - Kimberly Conteddu
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES, University College Dublin, Dublin4, Ireland
| | - Laura L. Griffin
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES, University College Dublin, Dublin4, Ireland
- Department of Forest Resources Management, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main, Mall, VancouverV6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Bawan Amin
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES, University College Dublin, Dublin4, Ireland
| | - Adam F. Smith
- The Frankfurt Zoological Society, Frankfurt, Germany
- Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Management, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Amy Haigh
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES, University College Dublin, Dublin4, Ireland
| | - Simone Ciuti
- Laboratory of Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour, SBES, University College Dublin, Dublin4, Ireland
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Ubiquitous Love or Not? Animal Welfare and Animal-Informed Consent in Giant Panda Tourism. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040718. [PMID: 36830505 PMCID: PMC9952821 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Scholars argue that the ubiquity of the "virtual panda"-the panda people meet in zoos and consume as souvenirs, online memes, or videos-exists in a state of hybridity between wild and domesticated. The species has garnered a significant amount of attention because of their iconic status and because of how cute they are to an adoring crowd. However, given the degree of regard tourists have for the panda, there is a dearth of research on different types of visitors to captive panda venues. In filling this gap, we investigated (1) how deeply Chinese "fans" and "non-fans" consider the welfare of captive giant pandas, and (2) if these groups differ in their assessment of whether giant pandas consent to being used as tourist attractions. In both aims, we apply a recent model on animal welfare and animal consent to giant pandas of the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
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Díaz‐Fernández M, Naves J, Revilla E. Conservation implications of range dynamics in endangered populations: An example with brown bears. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.12894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Díaz‐Fernández
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EBD‐CSIC) Américo Vespucio, 26 Seville Spain
| | - Javier Naves
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EBD‐CSIC) Américo Vespucio, 26 Seville Spain
| | - Eloy Revilla
- Department of Conservation Biology Estación Biológica de Doñana, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EBD‐CSIC) Américo Vespucio, 26 Seville Spain
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Lorand C, Robert A, Gastineau A, Mihoub JB, Bessa-Gomes C. Effectiveness of interventions for managing human-large carnivore conflicts worldwide: Scare them off, don't remove them. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:156195. [PMID: 35623521 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Human-wildlife conflicts are associated with a threat to large carnivores, as well as with economic and social costs, thus challenging conservation management around the world. In this study, we explored the effectiveness of common management interventions used worldwide for the purpose of conflict reduction using an evidence-based framework combining expert assessment of intervention effectiveness, impact and uncertainty of assessment. We first conducted a literature review of human-large carnivore conflicts across the world. Based on this review, we identified three main types of management interventions (non-lethal, translocations, and lethal management) and we assessed their effectiveness. Our review indicates that, although the characteristics of conflicts with large carnivores are heavily influenced by the local context and the species, the main issues are depredation on livestock, space-sharing, and attacks on humans. Non-lethal interventions are more likely to reduce conflict, whereas translocations and lethal interventions are mostly ineffective and/or harmful to carnivore populations, without fostering successful long-term coexistence. The literature on conflict management is often imprecise and lacks consistency between studies or situations, which generally makes comparisons difficult. Our protocol allows for the reliable comparison of experiments characterized by heterogeneous standards, response variables, protocols, and quality of evidence. Nevertheless, we encourage the use of systematic protocols with common good standards in order to provide more reliable empirical evidence. This would clarify the relative effectiveness of conflict management strategies and contribute to the global reduction in the occurrence of human-large carnivore conflicts across the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte Lorand
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, CP 135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France; Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, UMR 8079 CNRS, Université Paris Saclay, Orsay, France.
| | - Alexandre Robert
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, CP 135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Adrienne Gastineau
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, CP 135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France; Equipe Ours, Unité Prédateurs-Animaux Déprédateurs, Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage, impasse de la Chapelle, 31800 Villeneuve-de-Rivière, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Mihoub
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Sorbonne Université, CP 135, 43 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Carmen Bessa-Gomes
- Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, UMR 8079 CNRS, Université Paris Saclay, Orsay, France
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Patterns of Human–Brown Bear Conflict in the Urban Area of Brașov, Romania. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14137833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Human–bear conflicts are increasing in number due to deforestation, urban expansion, tourism, and habitat invasion by humans. Our study was conducted in Brașov, a picturesque city in central Romania. Brașov is surrounded by forests and has significant tourist traffic, but also much uncollected garbage and many garbage containers, which attract brown bears. We recorded human–bear conflicts in four districts (Răcădău, the Historic Centre, Noua, and Gară) between 2004 and 2018, finding 55 cases in total, of which in 19 cases involving people, 4 people were killed and 32 were injured. In 36 cases, there were no human victims. We mapped the locations of human–bear conflicts and garbage containers, then analysed their space–time location and human victims in terms of behavioural factors. The altitudes at which brown bears were identified ranged from 580 to 790 m, whereas bears were found in the city at distances of between 100 and 2600 m from the forest. The highest frequency of human–bear conflicts occurred during summer and autumn, and the most common behavioural factor was human outdoor activities. This study provides an important background for understanding human–bear conflicts and will help local authorities develop effective strategies to reduce human–bear conflicts and mitigate risk.
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Lamamy C, Delgado MM, Kojola I, Heikkinen S, Penteriani V. Does moonlight affect movement patterns of a non‐obligate carnivore? Brown bears do not mind that the moon exists. J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. Lamamy
- Forest is life, TERRA Research Unit Gembloux Agro‐Bio Tech Université de Liège Gembloux Belgium
| | - M. M. Delgado
- Biodiversity Research Institute (IMIB, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)‐University of Oviedo‐Principality of Asturias), Campus Mieres Mieres Spain
| | - I. Kojola
- LUKE, Natural Resources Institute Rovaniemi Finland
| | - S. Heikkinen
- LUKE, Natural Resources Institute Rovaniemi Finland
| | - V. Penteriani
- Biodiversity Research Institute (IMIB, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)‐University of Oviedo‐Principality of Asturias), Campus Mieres Mieres Spain
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Smulders FOH, O’Shea OR, Christianen MJA. Animal-borne video reveals atypical behaviour in provisioned green turtles: A global perspective of a widespread tourist activity. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2020.e01417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
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Abstract
The direct interactions between people and nature are critically important in many ways, with growing attention particularly on their impacts on human health and wellbeing (both positive and negative), on people's attitudes and behaviour towards nature, and on the benefits and hazards to wildlife. A growing evidence base is accelerating the understanding of different forms that these direct human-nature interactions take, novel analyses are revealing the importance of the opportunity and orientation of individual people as key drivers of these interactions, and methodological developments are increasingly making apparent their spatial, temporal and socio-economic dynamics. Here, we provide a roadmap of these advances and identify key, often interdisciplinary, research challenges that remain to be met. We identified several key challenges, including the need to characterize individual people's nature interactions through their life course, to determine in a comparable fashion how these interactions vary across much more diverse geographical, cultural and socio-economic contexts that have been explored to date, and to quantify how the relative contributions of people's opportunity and orientation vary in shaping their nature interactions. A robust research effort, guided by a focus on such unanswered questions, has the potential to yield high-impact insights into the fundamental nature of human-nature interactions and contribute to developing strategies for their appropriate management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masashi Soga
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1, Yayoi, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-8657, Japan
| | - Kevin J Gaston
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK
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Garshelis DL, Baruch-Mordo S, Bryant A, Gunther KA, Jerina K. Is diversionary feeding an effective tool for reducing human–bear conflicts? Case studies from North America and Europe. URSUS 2017. [DOI: 10.2192/ursu-d-16-00019.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kerry A. Gunther
- Bear Management Office, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190, USA
| | - Klemen Jerina
- Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Večna pot 83, 1000 Slovenia
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Human impacts on bear feeding habits and habitat selection in the Poľana Mountains, Slovakia. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-016-1009-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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11
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Massé S, Dussault C, Dussault C, Ibarzabal J. How artificial feeding for tourism-watching modifies black bear space use and habitat selection. J Wildl Manage 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Massé
- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi; Département des sciences fondamentales; 555 boulevard de l'Université Chicoutimi Qué. G7H 2B1 Canada
| | - Christian Dussault
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs; direction de la faune terrestre et de l'avifaune; 880 Chemin Sainte-Foy 2e étage Québec Qué. G1S 4X4 Canada
| | - Claude Dussault
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs; direction régionale de la faune Saguenay - Lac-Saint-Jean; 3950 boul. Harvey Jonquière Qué. G7X8L6 Canada
| | - Jacques Ibarzabal
- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi; Département des sciences fondamentales; 555 boulevard de l'Université Chicoutimi Qué. G7H 2B1 Canada
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Elfström M, Zedrosser A, Jerina K, Støen OG, Kindberg J, Budic L, Jonozovič M, Swenson JE. Does despotic behavior or food search explain the occurrence of problem brown bears in Europe? J Wildl Manage 2014; 78:881-893. [PMID: 25253909 PMCID: PMC4140552 DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Accepted: 04/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Bears foraging near human developments are often presumed to be responding to food shortage, but this explanation ignores social factors, in particular despotism in bears. We analyzed the age distribution and body condition index (BCI) of shot brown bears in relation to densities of bears and people, and whether the shot bears were killed by managers (i.e., problem bears; n = 149), in self-defense (n = 51), or were hunter-killed nonproblem bears (n = 1,896) during 1990-2010. We compared patterns between areas with (Slovenia) and without supplemental feeding (Sweden) of bears relative to 2 hypotheses. The food-search/food-competition hypothesis predicts that problem bears should have a higher BCI (e.g., exploiting easily accessible and/or nutritious human-derived foods) or lower BCI (e.g., because of food shortage) than nonproblem bears, that BCI and human density should have a positive correlation, and problem bear occurrence and seasonal mean BCI of nonproblem bears should have a negative correlation (i.e., more problem bears during years of low food availability). Food competition among bears additionally predicts an inverse relationship between BCI and bear density. The safety-search/naivety hypothesis (i.e., avoiding other bears or lack of human experience) predicts no relationship between BCI and human density, provided no dietary differences due to spatiotemporal habitat use among bears, no relationship between problem bear occurrence and seasonal mean BCI of nonproblem bears, and does not necessarily predict a difference between BCI for problem/nonproblem bears. If food competition or predation avoidance explained bear occurrence near settlements, we predicted younger problem than nonproblem bears and a negative correlation between age and human density. However, if only food search explained bear occurrence near settlements, we predicted no relation between age and problem or nonproblem bear status, or between age and human density. We found no difference in BCI or its variability between problem and nonproblem bears, no relation between BCI and human density, and no correlation between numbers of problem bears shot and seasonal mean BCI for either country. The peak of shot problem bears occurred from April to June in Slovenia and in June in Sweden (i.e., during the mating period when most intraspecific predation occurs and before fall hyperphagia). Problem bears were younger than nonproblem bears, and both problem and nonproblem bears were younger in areas of higher human density. These age differences, in combination with similarities in BCI between problem and nonproblem bears and lack of correlation between BCI and human density, suggested safety-search and naïve dispersal to be the primary mechanisms responsible for bear occurrence near settlements. Younger bears are less competitive, more vulnerable to intraspecific predation, and lack human experience, compared to adults. Body condition was inversely related to the bear density index in Sweden, whereas we found no correlation in Slovenia, suggesting that supplemental feeding may have reduced food competition, in combination with high bear harvest rates. Bears shot in self-defense were older and their BCI did not differ from that of nonproblem bears. Reasons other than food shortage apparently explained why most bears were involved in encounters with people or viewed as problematic near settlements in our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Elfström
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life SciencesPostbox 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Andreas Zedrosser
- Department of Environmental and Health Studies, Telemark University CollegeNO-3800, Bø i Telemark, Norway
- Institute of Wildlife Biology and Game Management, Department of Integrative Biology and Biodiversity Research, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life SciencesGregor-Mendel-Str. 33, A-1180, Vienna, Austria
| | - Klemen Jerina
- Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, Biotechnical Faculty, University of LjubljanaVečna pot 83, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ole-Gunnar Støen
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life SciencesPostbox 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Jonas Kindberg
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Swedish University of Agricultural SciencesSE-901 83, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Lara Budic
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life SciencesPostbox 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway
- Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, University of FreiburgTennenbacherstr. 4, DE-79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marko Jonozovič
- Slovenia Forest ServiceVečna pot 2, SI-1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jon E Swenson
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life SciencesPostbox 5003, NO-1432, Ås, Norway
- Norwegian Institute for Nature ResearchNO-7485, Trondheim, Norway
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Kavčič I, Adamič M, Kaczensky P, Krofel M, Jerina K. Supplemental feeding with carrion is not reducing brown bear depredations on sheep in Slovenia. URSUS 2013. [DOI: 10.2192/ursus-d-12-00031r1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Dubois S, Fraser D. A Framework to Evaluate Wildlife Feeding in Research, Wildlife Management, Tourism and Recreation. Animals (Basel) 2013; 3:978-94. [PMID: 26479747 PMCID: PMC4494361 DOI: 10.3390/ani3040978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2013] [Revised: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Human feeding of wildlife is a world-wide phenomenon with very diverse effects on conservation, animal welfare and public safety. From a review of the motivations, types and consequences of wildlife feeding, an evaluative framework is presented to assist policy-makers, educators and managers to make ethical- and biologically-based decisions about the appropriateness of feeding wildlife in the context of research, wildlife management, tourism and recreation. Abstract Feeding of wildlife occurs in the context of research, wildlife management, tourism and in opportunistic ways. A review of examples shows that although feeding is often motivated by good intentions, it can lead to problems of public safety and conservation and be detrimental to the welfare of the animals. Examples from British Columbia illustrate the problems (nuisance animal activity, public safety risk) and consequences (culling, translocation) that often arise from uncontrolled feeding. Three features of wildlife feeding can be distinguished: the feasibility of control, the effects on conservation and the effects on animal welfare. An evaluative framework incorporating these three features was applied to examples of feeding from the literature. The cases of feeding for research and management purposes were generally found to be acceptable, while cases of feeding for tourism or opportunistic feeding were generally unacceptable. The framework should allow managers and policy-makers to distinguish acceptable from unacceptable forms of wildlife feeding as a basis for policy, public education and enforcement. Many harmful forms of wildlife feeding seem unlikely to change until they come to be seen as socially unacceptable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Dubois
- Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
| | - David Fraser
- Animal Welfare Program, University of British Columbia, 2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada.
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