Nature experience promotes preference for and willingness to coexist with wild animals among urban and suburban residents in Malaysia

Abstract

Introduction: A decline in direct experience with nature can lead to disaffection of natural environments, wildlife, and public indifference towards biodiversity conservation. This study measured on affective attitude towards wildlife (i.e., preferences for and willingness to coexist with 22 animal species) and examined the relationships between these attitudes and childhood experiences with nature. Methods: A face to face interview was carried out in rapidly urbanizing Malaysia for both urban and suburban 357 adults (age > 20 years old). Results: It found that Malaysian people liked several insects and squirrels, but disliked mammals generally. Mediation analysis, with controlling sociodemographic factors (gender, age and ethnicity), showed that childhood nature experience was positively associated with preference for wild animals (standardized path coefficient = 0.18; p < 0.001), and the preference had a strong correlation with willingness to coexistence (standardized path coefficient = 0.61; p < 0.001) with the animals. Childhood nature experience, however, had limited effects on willingness to coexist with the animals via the preference, particularly for unfavourable animals. These results suggest that preference and willingness scores, even though they were significantly correlated, were different sides of affective attitudes toward animals. Conclusions: Therefore, to promote biodiversity conservation programs, we need strategies to increase acceptance of wild animals via relevant environmental education and public communication, as well as opportunities for nature activities for children.

Attitudes And Preferences of Wildlife And Their Relationship With Childhood Nature Experience Amongst Residents In A Tropical Urban City

“…(Singapore Department of Statistics 2020). Contrary to ndings from Mohamad Muslim et al (2018), the Malay respondents in our study had the lowest mean scores for childhood nature experience, wildlife experience and habitat preferences, compared to other ethnicities (Fig. S3).…”

“…S4). This is contrary to ndings from Bjerke and Østdahl (2004), Hosaka et al 2017, andMohamad Muslim et al (2018), but were similar to Kaltenborn et al (2006). In a previous study with the same survey respondents, likeability and tolerance was found to decrease with age, but that was only for three species of problemcausing wildlife (Ngo et al 2019).…”

“…Ethnicity had a signi cant effect on wildlife likeability and habitat preference, similar to a Malaysian study (Mohamad Muslim et al 2018). However, although Singapore and Malaysia share similar ethnicities, Malaysia has a Malay majority, while Singapore has an ethnic Chinese majority.…”

Understanding human responses to wildlife in Malaysia

“…The results indicated that people living closer to Kuala Lumpur's urban parks felt more of an ethical obligation to protect urban biodiversity than people living further away. Two studies examined individual residents' attitudes toward urban wildlife (Mohamad Muslim, Hosaka, Numata, & Yahya, 2018;Nik Mohamad, 2011). Findings indicated that Malaysian people generally liked several insects and squirrels and liked mammals such as monkeys and wild boars less.…”

“…We used a purposive sampling approach to select individuals among inhabitants in Peninsular Malaysia to participate in semi-structured interviews. Research has suggested that Malaysians' perceptions of wildlife vary by age, place of residence and sex (Abd Mutalib, Fadzly, & Foo, 2013;Mohamad Muslim, Hosaka, Numata, & Yahya, 2018). Therefore, we included individuals of both sexes, different age categories and different places of residence.…”