Changing attitudes towards wild predators, addressing fear

Abstract

The presence of large carnivores close to the built environment triggers strong emotions among the public. Some people may see the presence of these animals as a positive and rewarding experience, while other may respond with feelings of fear for themselves or their children and pets. Such feelings are associated with attitudes towards wildlife management and policy as well as human well-being and quality of life. The literature proposes four major groups of interventions that managing authorities may offer to people who feel fear of brown bears (and other large carnivores): information and education, exposure to animal and habitat, collaboration and participation, and financial incentives1. This presentation reports on a series of intervention studies with the overarching aim to develop tools, based on psychological principles, to reduce the public’s fear of brown bear. The studies encompass information and/or exposure to brown bear habitat and have been carried out in collaboration with large carnivore information centres and wildlife parks in Sweden. It is concluded that the two types of interventions successfully can decrease feelings of fear of brown bear among persons who are motivated to participate. The change seems to be dependent upon the participant being given the opportunity to re-appraise the potential consequences of a brown bear encounter. This requires attention to the information content, and the social and environmental context.

1 Johansson, M., Ferreira, I. Støen, O-G., Frank, J. & Flykt, A. (2016).Targeting human fear of large carnivores — Many ideas but few known effects. Biological Conservation, 20, 261–269.