Managing wolf conflict perspectives in central Portugal

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor(a) principal: Martins, Raquel Sofia Costa
Data de Publicação: 2019
Tipo de documento: Dissertação
Idioma: eng
Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/27765
Resumo: Portuguese wolf populations suffered a decrease during the 20th century mainly due to the expansion of road network, increasing number of forest fires, decrease of wild prey populations, and human persecution. This is particularly worrying in Central Portugal, South of River Douro, where populations are small, highly fragmented and isolated, with little genetic variability and instable reproduction, and low density of wild prey. Conflict in this area is aggravated by high levels of livestock depredation, where livestock makes up for more than 90% of wolves diet. This antagonizes Humans towards wildlife, that typically respond by recurring to activities such as illegal pouching or poisoning in order to solve their problem. This problematic is recognized as the first cause of large carnivores’ persecution and population decline. By surveying individual attitudes toward wolves in central Portugal, we believe that it is possible to understand and even predict behaviour towards the specie. This was done using a questionnaire to sample local population, a total of 222 questionnaires from three interest groups (general public, N=119; livestock owners, N=88; and hunters, N=24) were analysed. We measured Attitude, Fear and Knowledge Index, tested correlation between Index and examined which variables influenced Attitudes and Fear. Attitudes towards wolves were positive, even though Fear high and Knowledge was low. We also found that attitudes tend to be more positive with the decrease of fear and the increase of knowledge, and fear tends to decrease with the increase of knowledge. The main variable influencing attitudes negatively was found to be Fear, and age for the livestock owners, where people older than 60 years old tend to have more negative attitude. As for Fear the main influenceable variables belong to the female gender, a low knowledge index and the knowledge/having suffered from wolf depredation. These results can be used to increase locals’ tolerance, by creating tailored conservational measures together with all the stakeholders’ group
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spelling Managing wolf conflict perspectives in central PortugalIberian wolfCanis lupus signatusMan-wolf conflictAttitudeFearKnowledgeWildlife managementPortuguese wolf populations suffered a decrease during the 20th century mainly due to the expansion of road network, increasing number of forest fires, decrease of wild prey populations, and human persecution. This is particularly worrying in Central Portugal, South of River Douro, where populations are small, highly fragmented and isolated, with little genetic variability and instable reproduction, and low density of wild prey. Conflict in this area is aggravated by high levels of livestock depredation, where livestock makes up for more than 90% of wolves diet. This antagonizes Humans towards wildlife, that typically respond by recurring to activities such as illegal pouching or poisoning in order to solve their problem. This problematic is recognized as the first cause of large carnivores’ persecution and population decline. By surveying individual attitudes toward wolves in central Portugal, we believe that it is possible to understand and even predict behaviour towards the specie. This was done using a questionnaire to sample local population, a total of 222 questionnaires from three interest groups (general public, N=119; livestock owners, N=88; and hunters, N=24) were analysed. We measured Attitude, Fear and Knowledge Index, tested correlation between Index and examined which variables influenced Attitudes and Fear. Attitudes towards wolves were positive, even though Fear high and Knowledge was low. We also found that attitudes tend to be more positive with the decrease of fear and the increase of knowledge, and fear tends to decrease with the increase of knowledge. The main variable influencing attitudes negatively was found to be Fear, and age for the livestock owners, where people older than 60 years old tend to have more negative attitude. As for Fear the main influenceable variables belong to the female gender, a low knowledge index and the knowledge/having suffered from wolf depredation. These results can be used to increase locals’ tolerance, by creating tailored conservational measures together with all the stakeholders’ groupDurante o século XX, a população portuguesa de lobos sofreu um decréscimo devido à expansão rodoviária, aumento de fogos florestais, diminuição de presas selvagens e à perseguição humana. Isto é particularmente preocupante no centro de Portugal, a sul do rio Douro, onde as populações são pequenas, altamente fragmentadas e isoladas, com baixa variabilidade genética e reprodução instável e baixa densidade de presas selvagens. Nesta área, os conflitos são agravados devido aos altos níveis de predação a gado doméstico, que constitui mais de 90% da dieta dos lobos. Este tipo de comportamentos dificulta as interações entre os humanos e a vida selvagem, instigando muitas vezes, comportamentos como a caça ilegal ou envenenamento para solucionar o “problema”, sendo esta a principal causa de perseguição e decréscimo das populações de grandes carnívoros. Avaliando as atitudes individuais para com o lobo no centro de Portugal, acreditamos ser possível perceber e prever comportamentos para com a espécie. Recorremos a um questionário para amostrar a população local, um total de 222 questionários de três grupos alvo (publico geral, N= 119; donos de gado, N= 88; e caçadores, N= 24) foram analisados. Medimos os Índices de Atitude, Medo e Conhecimento, testamos a correlação entre índices e examinamos quais as variáveis que influenciavam as Atitudes e o Medo. As atitudes para com o lobo são positivas, apesar do índice de Medo ser elevado e o Conhecimento baixo. Também descobrimos que as atitudes tendem a ser mais positivas quando o medo é baixo e o conhecimento alto. As principais variáveis que influenciam as atitudes negativamente são o medo e a idade no caso dos donos de gado, em que pessoas mais velhas que 60 anos tinham atitudes negativas. Em relação ao medo, as principais variáveis que o influenciam são pessoas do género feminino, o baixo índice de conhecimento e ter conhecimento/sofrido ataques a gado doméstico. Estes resultados podem ser utilizados para aumentar a tolerâncias dos locais, criando medidas conservacionista personalizadas em conjunto com todos os grupos de interesse2021-01-03T00:00:00Z2019-12-18T00:00:00Z2019-12-18info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/masterThesisapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10773/27765engMartins, Raquel Sofia Costainfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessreponame:Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)instname:Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informaçãoinstacron:RCAAP2024-02-22T11:53:55Zoai:ria.ua.pt:10773/27765Portal AgregadorONGhttps://www.rcaap.pt/oai/openaireopendoar:71602024-03-20T03:00:30.733927Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) - Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informaçãofalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Managing wolf conflict perspectives in central Portugal
title Managing wolf conflict perspectives in central Portugal
spellingShingle Managing wolf conflict perspectives in central Portugal
Martins, Raquel Sofia Costa
Iberian wolf
Canis lupus signatus
Man-wolf conflict
Attitude
Fear
Knowledge
Wildlife management
title_short Managing wolf conflict perspectives in central Portugal
title_full Managing wolf conflict perspectives in central Portugal
title_fullStr Managing wolf conflict perspectives in central Portugal
title_full_unstemmed Managing wolf conflict perspectives in central Portugal
title_sort Managing wolf conflict perspectives in central Portugal
author Martins, Raquel Sofia Costa
author_facet Martins, Raquel Sofia Costa
author_role author
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv Martins, Raquel Sofia Costa
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv Iberian wolf
Canis lupus signatus
Man-wolf conflict
Attitude
Fear
Knowledge
Wildlife management
topic Iberian wolf
Canis lupus signatus
Man-wolf conflict
Attitude
Fear
Knowledge
Wildlife management
description Portuguese wolf populations suffered a decrease during the 20th century mainly due to the expansion of road network, increasing number of forest fires, decrease of wild prey populations, and human persecution. This is particularly worrying in Central Portugal, South of River Douro, where populations are small, highly fragmented and isolated, with little genetic variability and instable reproduction, and low density of wild prey. Conflict in this area is aggravated by high levels of livestock depredation, where livestock makes up for more than 90% of wolves diet. This antagonizes Humans towards wildlife, that typically respond by recurring to activities such as illegal pouching or poisoning in order to solve their problem. This problematic is recognized as the first cause of large carnivores’ persecution and population decline. By surveying individual attitudes toward wolves in central Portugal, we believe that it is possible to understand and even predict behaviour towards the specie. This was done using a questionnaire to sample local population, a total of 222 questionnaires from three interest groups (general public, N=119; livestock owners, N=88; and hunters, N=24) were analysed. We measured Attitude, Fear and Knowledge Index, tested correlation between Index and examined which variables influenced Attitudes and Fear. Attitudes towards wolves were positive, even though Fear high and Knowledge was low. We also found that attitudes tend to be more positive with the decrease of fear and the increase of knowledge, and fear tends to decrease with the increase of knowledge. The main variable influencing attitudes negatively was found to be Fear, and age for the livestock owners, where people older than 60 years old tend to have more negative attitude. As for Fear the main influenceable variables belong to the female gender, a low knowledge index and the knowledge/having suffered from wolf depredation. These results can be used to increase locals’ tolerance, by creating tailored conservational measures together with all the stakeholders’ group
publishDate 2019
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2019-12-18T00:00:00Z
2019-12-18
2021-01-03T00:00:00Z
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instacron:RCAAP
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