Wildlife decline is a critical concern in sub-Saharan Africa, where human activities increasingly threaten biodiversity around protected areas. This study examined wildlife conservation perceptions among 150 children (aged 8 to 14) from two primary schools near Kasungu National Park, Malawi, using a structured questionnaire and participatory drawing exercises. While students showed strong conservation values, only 45.3% could name a verified KNP species when asked which animals near the park are disappearing. Student artwork was dominated by environmental threats, with 89.3% depicting deforestation and habitat destruction. Only 4.0% showed positive futures or human-wildlife coexistence, while 11.3% explicitly stated "no animals," suggesting some children envision futures without wildlife. Teachers and parents emerged as the most trusted information sources, followed by traditional authorities and village chiefs. These findings highlight the need for targeted conservation education that incorporates local knowledge and builds on trusted relationships to foster wildlife appreciation among future generations.
This study investigates how different video-based representations of scientific practice and a scientist's thought processes influence public perceptions of credibility - both of the scientist and the research - as well as perceived tentativeness of scientific findings and academic self-efficacy. In an experimental online study with a German general population sample (N = 1,105), four videos depicting bat ecology fieldwork were tested. The videos varied in two factors: representation of scientific practices (cookbook style vs. scientific reasoning style) and portrayal of the scientist's thought processes (science-in-the-making vs. ready-made science). Bat ecology, characterized by nocturnal behavior, complex habitats, and conservation challenges, provides a compelling context for examining the communication of uncertainty. Results show that more elaborate representations - particularly those reflecting scientific reasoning and science-in-the-making-led to higher perceptions of tentativeness. These findings underscore the importance of transparently communicating the epistemic processes of scientific knowledge construction to foster scientific literacy.
The primary object of this study is to investigate the determinants of away-from-home wildlife-watching participation in the U.S. By employing a panel data set that includes four national polls from 1996 to 2011, this work advances our understanding of cohort effects. The results indicate that being white, having a higher income or level of education, and participating in hunting or fishing are positive predictors for wildlife-watching participation. At the same time, there is an inverted relationship between age and wildlife-watching participation. Policy-making for wildlife management is also discussed.
Using deer hunter survey data, we estimate how hunting trip-related expenditures may change under hypothetical chronic wasting disease (CWD) prevalence scenarios in Mississippi and Tennessee. Reported reductions in hunting trips are modeled as demand-side shocks in input-output frameworks to project changes in hunting-related economic activity. In Mississippi, expenditure shocks range from 16.2% to 62.4%; in Tennessee, they range from 10.7% to 38.5% under scenarios spanning 10% to 100% prevalence. Both mean- and median-based trip responses show declining hunting effort as hypothetical prevalence increases, although projected impacts differ because trip responses are strongly right-skewed. While prior research suggests effects may be limited or temporary at lower observed prevalence levels, these results illustrate the potential for short-run economic disruption associated with increased hypothetical prevalence. The findings underscore the importance of incorporating hunter behavioral responses when evaluating the economic consequences of diseases affecting game wildlife.
Reducing bear access to anthropogenic food sources is key to urban bear management. However, bear-proofing measures, such as electric fences, may be hindered by some factors (e.g. negative attitude toward measures) among residents. In this study, we investigated the risk-based, attitudinal and demographic factors influencing the use of electric fences through a questionnaire in noncommercial farms (kitchen gardens) in Sapporo, Japan. Our results showed that only a few farmers use electric fences. While the incidence of crop damage by bears was lower than that by deer and other medium-sized mammals, many farmers were concerned about crop damage and bear encounters. The results also showed that fear of electrocution can prevent the use of electric fences, while risk perceptions of bears can be encouraged. Focusing on local factors may promote electric fence introduction to decrease human - bear conflicts in suburban areas.
Understanding the factors that predict whether hunting occurs on private land is vital for effective wildlife management. In this exploratory study, we surveyed non-industrial landowners (n = 855) along an urban-to-rural gradient in Durham County, North Carolina, to examine how political identity and several socio-demographic and geographic variables predict hunting occurrence on private property. Standardized comparisons (|ln(SOR)|) indicated that road density was the strongest predictor (|ln(SOR)| = 0.994), with hunting less likely in higher road-density areas. Age was the second strongest predictor (|ln(SOR)| = 0.469), with hunting more likely on properties owned by older landowners. Political identity was the third strongest predictor (|ln(SOR)| = 0.393), with hunting less likely on properties owned by landowners with more liberal political identities. These results illustrate that structural landscape features and socio-political factors shape hunting occurrence, and that customizing stakeholder engagement to align with landowner political identity may improve hunting access on private land.
Community awareness, participation, and attitudes are fundamental to achieving effective wildlife conservation. This study evaluated awareness of park management, conservation participation, and wildlife attitudes among local communities adjacent to Ethiopia's Gambella National Park (GNP). Data were gathered through household surveys (n = 206), focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Most respondents (>50%) were familiar with the park and its conservation goals, yet engagement in related activities was low (33%), and awareness gaps persisted. Positive attitudes toward wildlife were prevalent (>90% of the respondents), but limited livelihood options restricted adherence to conservation regulations. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that both awareness (beta = 0.68, p < .001) and participation (beta = 0.54, p < .001) were significant predictors of community attitudes. These findings highlight the need for collaborative management, targeted awareness initiatives, and alternative livelihoods to boost community engagement and achieve sustainable conservation in GNP.
Ecosystem restoration strategies, such as rewilding and the introduction of large herbivores, are promising approaches that can promote and preserve biodiversity. However, lack of public support can hinder their implementation. We use the case of rewilding in Denmark to measure people's support for (re-)introducing large herbivores and how support is influenced by participants' characteristics, perspectives and exposure to photographs of large herbivores. Because of the topic's sensitivity, we applied a modeling technique that allowed us to account for reporting errors. We found a probability of 63% that participants support large herbivores in Danish nature areas, and that next to demographic effects (e.g. age, gender) concern with animal welfare and agreement with a wilderness image of nature best explain level of support. Our results indicate the importance of considering variation in support between nature users with different perceptions of nature and concerns when planning and conducting (re-) introductions of large herbivores.
Declining participation in hunting and fishing has been slowed by women who are learning numerous outdoor skills through recruitment, retention, and reactivation [R3] programs. R3 programs are hosted by state agencies, non-governmental organizations, and businesses that take a variety of approaches to develop participant skills and confidence. To understand how R3 program design influences hunting and fishing participation, we conducted 11 focus group interviews with 72 participants at women's R3 programs to identify program design components that women appreciate when learning to hunt and fish. Well-designed programs offered customized educational approaches to align with participants' needs, created a supportive environment to foster a sense of belonging, and streamlined participation through event logistics. Programs that incorporated these design components promoted skill development, boosted self-confidence, and helped participants build a supportive network to independently hunt and fish. Program leaders can apply these findings to bolster participation in hunting and fishing.
The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation (NAM) allegedly describes principles critical to successful wildlife conservation in North America. The NAM is promoted by numerous hunting-related interest groups, some of whom use it as a source of legal authority to advocate for the supremacy of state governments over federal and tribal governments. We demonstrate why such prescriptions are inappropriate. Specifically, we show: (i) the NAM provides an outdated description of the system of conservation in the U.S. (one limited to policy developments prior to the 1930 s); (ii) the NAM's components were not derived from nor are they adequately supported by science; and (iii) despite claims to the contrary, existing evidence indicates that conservation outcomes produced by the system of conservation in the U.S. are appreciably worse than other countries. We conclude with thoughts on how human dimensions research could assist in improving our systems of conservation.
The reticulated giraffe (Giraffa reticulata) is classified as endangered and face human-giraffe conflicts (HGC) due to expanding settlements and land-use changes. This is particularly the case in Garissa County, and our study aimed to understand socio-economic factors driving these conflicts, including crop damage and explore proposed community strategies to mitigate HGC. Among 318 completed surveys, 92.5% (294) reported crop damage as the main issue, while 7.2% (23) reported property damage. Conflicts were more frequent near giraffe corridors (chi(2) = 15.44, p = .001), on small farms (<5 acres, chi(2) = 10.26, p = .006), and among households earning less than KES 10,000/month (chi(2) = 18.67, p < .001). Key barriers to mitigating HGC included limited resources 119 (37.4%) and weak institutional support 99 (31.1%). Suggested solutions were low-cost deterrent methods such as motion sensor lamps 132 (41.6%), non-palatable crops 108 (33.9%) and conservation education 71 (22.3%).
Hunters are the primary actors in chronic wasting disease (CWD) surveillance and management, but research assessing hunter acceptability of CWD mitigation techniques has focused almost exclusively on areas where the disease has been detected. Further, most studies use unidimensional measures of support or perceived effectiveness that do not tell the full story of hunters' perceptions toward disease surveillance and management actions. Thus, our study aimed to visually graph the acceptability of 14 potential CWD strategies in a state where CWD had not yet been detected using an emerging technique called Support-Effectiveness Analysis. The 1,278 completed questionnaires from deer hunters in Georgia, USA, revealed restrictive efforts (e.g. bait and feed restrictions) were less acceptable than actions aimed at increasing disease surveillance efforts. Understanding hunter perceptions of CWD-related topics before the initial detection allows for a proactive approach to CWD communication and management, which can improve future participation in mitigation efforts.
The Save Valley Conservancy (SVC) in Zimbabwe's Southeast Lowveld is a key ecological corridor facing pressures from land-use conflict, tenure insecurity, and fragmented tourism development. This study examines the social dimensions of conservation and tourism in SVC, highlighting the need for inclusive governance, community participation, and coordinated restoration. Using qualitative interviews with community members, interest groups, and governance actors, supported by participatory mapping and policy analysis, the research identifies major challenges including livestock encroachment, wildlife crime, climate impacts, and conflicting land-use policies. Findings underscore the urgency of securing tenure rights, integrating communities into land-use planning, and aligning tourism initiatives with conservation goals. A framework for corridor restoration is proposed, centred on landscape-level planning, equitable benefit sharing, and coordinated engagement. The study contributes actionable insights for strengthening human-wildlife coexistence in contested protected areas.
The perpetuation of sustainable recreational fisheries is dependent on both license purchasing and trip-related angler behavior. License purchasing and trip-related behavior are frequently assumed to be connected but have primarily been studied independently. Discerning the connection between these behaviors could potentially reveal opportunities for site-specific management to increase license sales. Our objectives were to investigate angler license purchasing behavior, and use it to predict differences among angler trip-related behaviors. We used a long-term (11-year) licensing database and trip-related behavior survey information (2017-2018 and 2018-2019 fishing seasons) collected by the North Dakota Game and Fish Department. We identified differences among angler license purchasing patterns, and grouped anglers into three disparate typologies. However, angler license typologies exhibited minimal differences among trip-related behaviors. Our findings suggest license purchasing and trip-related angler behavior may represent independent decisions. Therefore, management actions may influence angler behavior, but could be independent of their license purchasing history.
Mitigating the impacts of chronic wasting disease (CWD) requires timely management intervention and ongoing cooperation between multiple stakeholders, especially meat processors and taxidermists, as these partners have the skill and access to provide CWD samples. While integral partners for the detection of CWD, little research has assessed their perspectives on disease management and communication. Thus, we distributed a mail-based survey to meat processors and taxidermists in Georgia, USA, to gauge what CWD information needs were important to meat processors and taxidermists and how informed they were in those areas. Results from 99 survey responses (17 meat processors and 82 taxidermists) indicated that information about CWD regulations and findings about surveillance strategies were areas where agencies should focus efforts. Managers can use our results to better engage in participatory communication with meat processors and taxidermists, as they are the first line of defense for finding CWD and limiting its spread.
