Naslov
Public perceptions about human-bear conflicts and potential solutions in the four countries sharing the same population.

Autori
Majić Srkbinšek, Aleksandra ; Srkbinšek, Tomaž ; Knauer, Felix ; Reljić, Slaven ; Molinari, Jobin

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, ostalo

Izvornik
Book of Abstracts of the 25th International Conference on Bear Research & Management (IBA). / - Quito, 2017, 140-140

ISBN
978-9942-8545-9-9

Skup
25th International Conference on Bear Research & Management.

Mjesto i datum
Quito, Ekvador, 13.11.2017. - 17.11.2017

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
Brown bear, conflict, public perception.

Sažetak
We used structured survey to analyze public perceptions about human-bear conflicts and about potential solutions to human bear conflict on a randomly selected sample of inhabitants of bear areas in Italy, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia. Following a data quality screening, 2306 questionnaires were included in the analysis. We used GLM and information-theoretic approach to model selection and inference to model the data and enable interpretation of effects of otherwise confounded explanatory variables. We used the scores obtained by PCA variably as response or predictor variables, and explored their relation to other characteristics of the sample. Eight questions were designed to explore respondents’ perceptions about human-bear conflict. The respondents were asked to assess how problematic (if at all) different situations with bears were for them personally. The scale ranged from “very problematic” to “I like the idea”. PCA analysis has not identify any significant structure, so one PCA score was extracted and interpreted as “tolerance of bear conflicts”. Additional nine questions were designed to investigate respondents’ perceptions about the effectiveness of possible solutions to human-bear conflicts. The respondents were asked to assess how (if) effective different solutions to bear conflict were according to their opinion. The scale ranged from “measure is actually increasing the problem” to “very effective”. PCA analysis of the solutions items has clearly structured the data into three logical interpretable components: “conflict mitigation and education”, “culling and removal of problem bears”, and “supplemental feeding of bears”. According to our model, Italians can tolerate the most conflict situations although all groups showed tolerance of most of the presented situations. Younger generations, males, dog owners and knowledgeable about bear biology were more tolerant of conflicts with bears. Respondents in all regions acknowledged the effectiveness of “mitigation measures”, while the effectiveness of “culling” and “supplemental feeding” was perceived differently in different regions. Livestock owners were less inclined to supporting mitigation measures as an effective solution, however they were still overall supportive. Familiarity with bear biology proved to be important in predicting support for mitigation measures.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija, Veterinarska medicina

POVEZANOST RADA