Local Attitudes and Perceptions Toward Large Carnivores in a Human-Dominated Landscape of Northern Tanzania

Mkonyi, Felix J.; Estes, Anna B.; Msuha, Maurus; Lichtenfeld, Laly L.; Durant, Sarah M.

doi:10.1080/10871209.2017.1323356

Cited by 44 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…The Andean population in Santa Rosa may explain the lower rates of perceived attack experience and reported jaguar killing in Santa Rosa compared to Tacana II and MNAWR, as they have lived with jaguars for far less time than the Amazonian population. However, our findings contradict those of previous studies that have found long-term exposure to large carnivore-related risks leads to more positive attitudes toward the species (Røskaft et al, 2003;Mkonyi et al, 2017;Glikman et al, 2019). Cultural differences between Amazonian and Andean social groups may also play a role.…”

Section: The Importance Of Stakeholder Characteristicscontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…In all three-study areas, however, women were less positive about jaguars than men and evaluated jaguar persecution more favorably. Previous studies have indicated a similar gender difference in tolerance of large carnivores (Kellert and Berry, 1987;Campbell and Alvarado, 2011;Harvey et al, 2017;Mkonyi et al, 2017). Age was a significant predictor of past jaguar killing in MNAWR, but not in the other two areas.…”

Section: The Importance Of Stakeholder Characteristicssupporting

confidence: 55%

“…The effect of livestock loss on attitudes toward carnivores varies between studies and contexts, with some reporting a strong relationship (Dickman, 2008;Kissui, 2008) and others no direct relationship at all (Conforti and De Azevedo, 2003;Mkonyi et al, 2017). Experiencing or knowing someone who experienced a perceived jaguar attack on humans predicted jaguar killing in Santa Rosa and Tacana II.…”

Section: Experiences: Perceived Attacks and Depredationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2019

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Persecution by humans is one of the most pressing threats to jaguars (Panthera onca) throughout the Americas, yet few studies have examined the killing of jaguars outside cattle-ranching communities. Although over one-third of the jaguar's range is formally protected, relatively little is known about human-jaguar relationships within protected areas and indigenous territories. Protected land within the Bolivian Amazon, considered a stronghold for the jaguar, contains communities who differ economically, legally, and socially from previously-studied human populations living with jaguars. Using in-person structured interviews, we investigated attitudes and norms related to jaguars and jaguar killing, self-reported past killing of jaguars, and demographic variables in two protected areas and an indigenous territory: Integrated Management Area (IMA) of Santa Rosa del Abuná (Santa Rosa, n = 224), Indigenous Territory Tacana II (n = 137), and Manuripi National Amazon Wildlife Reserve (MNAWR, n = 169). Overall, people disliked (48.9%) or felt neutral (26.8%) toward jaguars. A relatively large number of people reported either being attacked or knowing someone who had been attacked by a jaguar: 15.45% in Santa Rosa, 14.20% in MNAWR, and 30.88% in Tacana II. Many respondents stated to have killed a jaguar, although the proportion differed among study areas: 20.39% of Santa Rosa, 55.47% of Tacana II, and 32.72% of MNAWR. People perceived jaguar persecution as relatively common: 44.9% of Santa Rosa, 90.8% of Tacana II, and 65.8% of MNAWR said their neighbors kill jaguars (i.e., descriptive norm). Also, 75.4% of Santa Rosa, 89.1% of Tacana II, and 69.1% of MNAWR said that some of their family members and neighbors thought jaguar killing was good (i.e., subjective norm). Descriptive and subjective norms positively influenced both attitudes toward killing and past killing of jaguars. This perception of jaguar killing being common and socially-accepted, combined with high rates of past killing and a growing illegal trade of jaguar parts, may create an atmosphere conducive to widespread jaguar persecution in the Bolivian Amazon. We recommend management strategies that focus on preventing jaguar depredation of small domestic animals, lessening the perception of carnivore encounters as dangerous to decrease safety-related fears, and making large carnivore killing socially unacceptable (e.g., through social marketing).

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Section: The Importance Of Stakeholder Characteristicscontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: The Importance Of Stakeholder Characteristicssupporting

confidence: 55%

Section: Experiences: Perceived Attacks and Depredationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2019

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“…For example, although about half of the 23 respondents who wished to see wild dogs completely removed from the landscape were wildlife ranchers, owners of ecotourism proper-ties (6 respondents) and crop farms (7 respondents) also shared this view. Such results support the notion that relationships between demographic variables and levels of human−predator conflict are not always linear or necessarily simplistic (Lagendijk & Gusset 2008, Mkonyi et al 2017. However, for some of our attitude statements, we asked respondents to comment on either their own or their neighbor's feelings towards wild dogs in an attempt to capture the broader sentiment towards wild dogs outside of the KNP.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

“…Previous work in Africa has demonstrated that negative attitudes and perceptions towards carnivores are associated with the fear that carnivores are a threat to livestock/game and human life (Parker et al 2014, Mkonyi et al 2017. In fact, in the rural pastoralist areas outside the Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, the majority of respondents disliked carnivores for this very reason (Mkonyi et al 2017). Although negative sentiment towards wild dogs in our study area was generally low, 9.1% of respondents, mostly wildlife ranchers, indicated that they would prefer to see wild dogs completely removed from the landscape.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attitudes and tolerance of private landowners shape the African wild dog conservation landscape in the greater Kruger National Park

Parker¹,

Watermeyer²,

Davies‐Mostert³

et al. 2018

Endang. Species. Res.

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The survival of wildlife ultimately relies on its acceptability to humans. The African wild dog Lycaon pictus is an endangered species that often comes into conflict with humans. Currently, the only viable population in South Africa resides in the Kruger National Park (KNP). To begin to understand the acceptability of wild dogs outside this important wild dog stronghold, we interviewed private landowners (n = 186) along the KNP western and southern boundaries. Respondents generally held positive attitudes towards wild dogs and had a good knowledge of them. Attitudes were also more positive when the property was part of a conservancy, indicating that the conservation landscape for wild dogs on private land outside the KNP is promising. However, the impact of edge effects such as disease transmission should not be ignored in future research, and creative solutions for mitigating these effects must be sought to ensure the future conservation of wild dogs.

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Social and ecological dimensions are needed to understand human‐wildlife conflict in subsistence farming context

Yeshey,

Keenan,

Ford

et al. 2024

People and Nature

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This study explores the social, economic and environmental dimensions of human‐wildlife conflict (HWC) in four districts of Bhutan. Looking beyond the common unidimensional approach to the evaluation of HWCs, it documents the multifaceted nature of HWCs through a social‐ecological system (SES) lens. We carried out a mixed method analysis of HWC based on 96 interviews consisting of qualitative and quantitative data and eight focus group discussions conducted in four districts representing four regions of Bhutan. Our case study finding reveals that HWC scenarios are complex and there is spatial variation in both social and ecological factors that contribute to HWC. In some areas, ecological aspects such as the composition and behaviour of wildlife species exacerbate the conflict, while in other regions the co‐occurrence of wildlife and livestock in the same ‘wild’ landscape drives HWC. The socio‐economic dimensions of HWC are largely driven by attitudes, tolerance, and behaviour of individuals underpinned by multiple factors. We propose that the SES approach improves our understanding of key social, economic and ecological factors, their interactions, and the feedback that either exacerbates or ameliorates HWC in contested landscapes. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

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Local Attitudes and Perceptions Toward Large Carnivores in a Human-Dominated Landscape of Northern Tanzania

Cited by 44 publications

References 35 publications

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

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

Attitudes and tolerance of private landowners shape the African wild dog conservation landscape in the greater Kruger National Park

Social and ecological dimensions are needed to understand human‐wildlife conflict in subsistence farming context

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