Sammanfattning

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.

Publicerad i

Scientific Reports
2016, Volym: 6, artikelnummer: 20552
Utgivare: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP

SLU författare

• Frank, Jens

  • Institutionen för ekologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    

• Lopez, José

  • Institutionen för ekologi, Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet
    
  • Universidad de Oviedo

Associerade SLU-program

Viltskadecenter


UKÄ forskningsämne

Zoologi
Ekologi


More information

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


Publikationens identifierare

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

Permanent länk till denna sida (URI)

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