Abstract

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.

Published in

Scientific Reports
2016, Volume: 6, article number: 20552
Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

SLU Authors

• Frank, Jens

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Lopez, José

  • Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • University of Oviedo

Associated SLU-program

Wildlife Damage Centre


UKÄ Subject classification

Zoology
Ecology


More information

Correction in: Scientific Reports, 7, Article Number: 45250 (2017) https://www.nature.com/articles/srep45250


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/srep20552

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/79785