Human behaviour can trigger large carnivore attacks in developed countries

The media and scientific literature are increasingly reporting an escalation of large carnivore attacks on humans in North America and Europe. Although rare compared to human fatalities by other wildlife, the media often overplay large carnivore attacks on humans, causing increased fear and negative...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2016-02, Vol.6 (1), p.20552-20552, Article 20552
Main Authors: Penteriani, Vincenzo, Delgado, María del Mar, Pinchera, Francesco, Naves, Javier, Fernández-Gil, Alberto, Kojola, Ilpo, Härkönen, Sauli, Norberg, Harri, Frank, Jens, Fedriani, José María, Sahlén, Veronica, Støen, Ole-Gunnar, Swenson, Jon E., Wabakken, Petter, Pellegrini, Mario, Herrero, Stephen, López-Bao, José Vicente
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/158/672
631/158/856
Animals
Animals, Wild - physiology
Carnivores
Children
Developed Countries
Ecology
Ecosystem
Ekologi
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humans
Industrialized nations
Media
multidisciplinary
Predatory Behavior
Prevention
Risk Factors
Risk taking
Science
Social Behavior
Wildlife
Zoologi
Zoology
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Summary:The media and scientific literature are increasingly reporting an escalation of large carnivore attacks on humans in North America and Europe. Although rare compared to human fatalities by other wildlife, the media often overplay large carnivore attacks on humans, causing increased fear and negative attitudes towards coexisting with and conserving these species. Although large carnivore populations are generally increasing in developed countries, increased numbers are not solely responsible for the observed rise in the number of attacks by large carnivores. Here we show that an increasing number of people are involved in outdoor activities and, when doing so, some people engage in risk-enhancing behaviour that can increase the probability of a risky encounter and a potential attack. About half of the well-documented reported attacks have involved risk-enhancing human behaviours, the most common of which is leaving children unattended. Our study provides unique insight into the causes and as a result the prevention, of large carnivore attacks on people. Prevention and information that can encourage appropriate human behaviour when sharing the landscape with large carnivores are of paramount importance to reduce both potentially fatal human-carnivore encounters and their consequences to large carnivores.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/srep20552