Human–wildlife conflict as a barrier to large carnivore managementand conservation in Turkey

Abstract

Large carnivorous mammals are wide-ranging animals and thus frequently come into contact with human settlements in agrarian landscapes. This often generates human-wildlife conflict; carnivores potentially damage livestock, agricultural products, or human well-being. In Turkey, the cooccurrence of eight medium-large carnivore species combined with a burgeoning human population and unsustainable consumption of natural resources increasingly threatens carnivore populations. To better understand human-wildlife conflict in Turkey and provide potential solutions, we conducted 959 human opinion surveys in 2006, 2010, and 2014 in 58 distinct settlements surrounding the Sarıkamış-Allahuekber Mountains National Park in Kars, Ardahan, and Erzurum provinces. Results show that respondents regularly interact with large carnivores and 77.2% experience harm from wildlife, typically in the form of damage to agricultural fields and livestock. Farmers and shepherds are more likely to have a negative perspective of carnivores than students, shopkeepers, and laborers. However, human perceptions of carnivores and the desire to be involved with ecotourism are improving over time. These results suggest that human perceptions of wildlife are a barrier to conservation and management of wildlife populations. The research, education, and outreach framework outlined here can be used to address human-wildlife conflict across Turkey and guide ongoing conservation efforts of Turkey's existing, and increasingly threatened, large carnivores.

Anthropogenic food resources foster the coexistence of distinct life history strategies: year‐round sedentary and migratory brown bears

“…We hypothesized three scenarios: (1) dump bears die following malnutrition before hibernation, (2) they resume the migratory behavior observed in forest bears or (3) they seek food in the Sarıkamış city and nearby villages. Given the bears’ ability to exploit anthropogenic food resources (Elfström et al ., ), we anticipate the third scenario, at least in the short term, which is likely to increase the interactions and existing conflicts with people (Chynoweth et al ., ). To limit interactions and avoid fatalities, the closure of the dump should therefore be coupled with the measures such as the use of bear‐proof bins and daily removal of household leftovers (Robbins, Schwartz & Felicetti, ).…”

Nature-Based Tourism in National and Natural Parks in Europe: A Systematic Review

“…Ristić et al [162] tried to understand the local population's opinion on the sustainability of tourism development and its contribution to rural development in parks. Analysing residents' opinions regarding wildlife and its management, as well as the designation of protected areas [173], can help mitigate the human-wildlife conflict in parks to the benefit of all parties. National parks have strict administration requirements to protect the natural environment, which can sometimes interfere with the lifestyle of residents and their quality of life.…”

An Investigation on Releasing Treated Wild Animals Into the Nature in Turkey

“…Diseases, injuries and death in wild animals are mostly due to human activity and unnatural causes (Vitouse et al, 1997; Sanderson et al, 2002;Manfredo and Dayer, 2004; Thompson et al, 2010;Burton and Doblar, 2004). In many developing countries, with widespread poverty and weak institutionalization, intense pressures to hunt, and the conversion and fragmentation of wildlife territories cause conflicts between humans and wildlife (Bulte and Rondeau, 2007;Gore et al, 2008;Chynoweth et al, 2016;Ambarlı et al, 2016). Yet, wildlife is not only critical to maintaining the integrity of the earth's ecosystem but wild animals are also biological indicators of environmental conditions in urban and rural areas.…”