engleski

Importance of lynx (Lynx lynx) attacks to livestock as perceived by inhabitants of lynx areas in Slovenia and Croatia

Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), similarly to other large carnivores can cause damage to human property by preying on sheep or goats. This controversial aspect of lynx ecology is one of the reasons why people sometimes oppose its conservation. Lynx population, shared by Slovenia and Croatia, was established following a reintroduction of 6 individuals to southern Slovenia in 1974. In both countries, lynx is listed as an endangered species which is strictly protected by law. Damages caused by lynx are compensated by the governments. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate perceptions of local inhabitants of lynx areas in Slovenia and Croatia about the issue of lynx damages to livestock. We have carried out a public attitude survey in the beginning of 2008. Questionnaire with paid return postage was sent to a randomly selected 1000 households in each country. Questionnaire was followed with a reminder/thank-you card 10 days later. Obtained response rates were 35.3% for Slovenia (SI) and 20.1% for Croatia (HR). We did not find any significant difference on respondents’ demographic characteristics among the two countries. Average age of respondents was 52 years for Slovenia and 51 for Croatia. In both countries most of the respondents were male (68.6% in SI and 66.8% in HR). Sheep owners were 4.5% and 4.3% of respondents in Slovenia and Croatia, respectively. There were fewer goat owners (3.1% and 2.9% for SI and HR, respectively). Damage caused by lynx on their livestock experienced 1.1% and 1.0% of respondents in Slovenia and Croatia, respectively. Although majority of respondents in both groups agreed or strongly agreed to the item “ It is necessary to conserve lynx population in SI/HR for the future generations” , respondents from Croatia scored significantly higher on the item (Mann-Whitney U test, p=0.001), thus demonstrating more positive attitudes toward lynx. Few respondents (9.0% in SI and 11.0% in HR ; p=0.863) expressed fear that lynx could cause them financial damage, however almost 20% of respondents from Slovenia and 15.9% from Croatia believed that sheep and goats are the main food for lynx (p=0.035). Approximately one third of respondents (SI: 35.2% ; HR: 33.7% ; p=0.500) from both countries agreed that damage-causing lynx should be shot. Large majority of all respondents (SI: 90.6% ; HR: 97.2% ; p=0.011) agreed that the damage caused by lynx should be compensated. In conclusion, both Slovenian and even more so Croatian respondents were in favour of lynx conservation in their respective countries. Majority of respondents do not fear that lynx could cause them financial damage but relatively high percentage, especially in Slovenia falsely believes that sheep and goats are the main lynx food. The next step is to investigate whether and how do the beliefs about the species impacts to livestock relate to support for conservation of the species.

lynx ; attacks ; Croatia ; Slovenia

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