engleski

Public attitudes toward brown bear and brown bear management in Croatia

Wildlife managers are increasingly trying to incorporate public opinions in their decision-making processes. The main aim of this study was to provide the decision-makers with scientific information on public attitudes toward brown bears and brown bear management. Quantitative survey research methods were used to collect data presented in this paper. The research instrument was a questionnaire that consisted of 59 items, most of which were of closed structure and offered responses on a 5-point Likert response scale. The questionnaires were mailed out with a prepaid return postage to random samples of general public and foresters in the bear range. Response rate of the general public and foresters was 37.9% (N=531) and 34.4% (N=186), respectively. The general public was represented by two samples, which correspond geographically with the central bear area (bears are hunted, N=299) and the peripheral bear area (no bear hunting, N=232).

Public attitudes; brown bear; management; Croatia

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