Human–Wildlife Conflict: The Human Dimension of European Bison Conservation in the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland)
An important limitation for the population growth of European bison in the Bieszczady Mountains may be the level of social acceptance. The study aimed to compare attitudes to European bison of local village inhabitants in Bieszczady and city dwellers in Rzeszów. We also investigated whether damage c...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/503 |
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| author | Daniel Klich Rafał Łopucki Magdalena Perlińska-Teresiak Agata Lenkiewicz-Bardzińska Wanda Olech |
| author_facet | Daniel Klich Rafał Łopucki Magdalena Perlińska-Teresiak Agata Lenkiewicz-Bardzińska Wanda Olech |
| author_sort | Daniel Klich |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | An important limitation for the population growth of European bison in the Bieszczady Mountains may be the level of social acceptance. The study aimed to compare attitudes to European bison of local village inhabitants in Bieszczady and city dwellers in Rzeszów. We also investigated whether damage caused by European bison or other wild species changes peoples’ perceptions of this animal. Our study showed that not only does the growing European bison population cause an increase in negative attitudes among local village communities, but this species also causes more conflict than any other herbivore in the Bieszczady Mountains. Village residents believed that the main threats that arise from European bison were the damage they cause and forest use limitations. The current compensation system for the damage caused by this species does not solve the problem because over 60% of damage is not effectively reported to the state administration. The city dwellers of Rzeszów displayed a different attitude towards the European bison. We concluded that while educational workshops for local villagers may alleviate conflict in the short-term, ultimately it is only by restricting the growth of the European bison population that a long-term effect will be achieved. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:52:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c5e4e64492ff4b79ab8019b5640be67e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:52:55Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-c5e4e64492ff4b79ab8019b5640be67e2023-12-11T17:07:05ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152021-02-0111250310.3390/ani11020503Human–Wildlife Conflict: The Human Dimension of European Bison Conservation in the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland)Daniel Klich0Rafał Łopucki1Magdalena Perlińska-Teresiak2Agata Lenkiewicz-Bardzińska3Wanda Olech4Department of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, PolandCentre for Interdisciplinary Research, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1J, 20-708 Lublin, PolandDepartment of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, PolandCisna Forest District, Cisna 87A, 38-607 Cisna, PolandDepartment of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW, Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, PolandAn important limitation for the population growth of European bison in the Bieszczady Mountains may be the level of social acceptance. The study aimed to compare attitudes to European bison of local village inhabitants in Bieszczady and city dwellers in Rzeszów. We also investigated whether damage caused by European bison or other wild species changes peoples’ perceptions of this animal. Our study showed that not only does the growing European bison population cause an increase in negative attitudes among local village communities, but this species also causes more conflict than any other herbivore in the Bieszczady Mountains. Village residents believed that the main threats that arise from European bison were the damage they cause and forest use limitations. The current compensation system for the damage caused by this species does not solve the problem because over 60% of damage is not effectively reported to the state administration. The city dwellers of Rzeszów displayed a different attitude towards the European bison. We concluded that while educational workshops for local villagers may alleviate conflict in the short-term, ultimately it is only by restricting the growth of the European bison population that a long-term effect will be achieved.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/503European bisonattitudeCarpathianshuman–wildlife conflictdamageforest |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Klich Rafał Łopucki Magdalena Perlińska-Teresiak Agata Lenkiewicz-Bardzińska Wanda Olech Human–Wildlife Conflict: The Human Dimension of European Bison Conservation in the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland) Animals European bison attitude Carpathians human–wildlife conflict damage forest |
| title | Human–Wildlife Conflict: The Human Dimension of European Bison Conservation in the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland) |
| title_full | Human–Wildlife Conflict: The Human Dimension of European Bison Conservation in the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland) |
| title_fullStr | Human–Wildlife Conflict: The Human Dimension of European Bison Conservation in the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Human–Wildlife Conflict: The Human Dimension of European Bison Conservation in the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland) |
| title_short | Human–Wildlife Conflict: The Human Dimension of European Bison Conservation in the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland) |
| title_sort | human wildlife conflict the human dimension of european bison conservation in the bieszczady mountains poland |
| topic | European bison attitude Carpathians human–wildlife conflict damage forest |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/503 |
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