Factors Affecting Local People’s Fear of Brown Bears (Ursus Arctos) in Protected Areas of Alborz Province

Abstract

Wildlife management and conservation is challenged by public perceptions and fear of carnivores in communities living in close proximity to wild habitats, where large carnivores occur. Fear of carnivores influences peoplechr('39')s attitudes towards wild animals, further exacerbating the problems associated with effective conservation and management of wildlife. Here, we aimed to investigate the factors affecting rural attitudes towards brown bears in two protected areas (Southern-Central Alborz protected area and Taleghan prohibited hunting area) in Alborz province. To evaluate the effect of participant and experimental variables, we used a questionnaire survey. Data were collected from 200 randomly chosen residents from 70 villages across both study areas between winter of 2018 and summer of 2019. Binomial Logistic Regression was used to analyze the effect of independent variables on intervieweeschr('39') fear of coexistence with brown bears. Our results revealed that experiences of brown bear attacks on orchards, respondents’ belief of bears’ role in reforestation, gender, respondents’ belief that bears jeopardize people’s safety, and respondents’ concern for coexisting with brown bears play a significant role in shaping human fear towards this species. Development and implementation of educational programs to reduce local people’s fear of large carnivores and improving the sense of public participation in wildlife conservation and management programs, particularly in villages located in or adjacent to protected areas, are highly recommended.

Keywords

• alborz province
• protected areas
• human-wildlife conflict
• brown bear
• fear of large carnivores
• local people
• wildlife damage to human resources