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Published in

Nature Research, Scientific Reports, 1(6), 2016

DOI: 10.1038/srep20552

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Human behaviour can trigger large carnivore attacks in developed countries

Journal article published in 2016 by Vincenzo Penteriani, Marı́a del Mar Delgado ORCID, María Del Mar Delgado, Francesco Pinchera, Javier Naves ORCID, Alberto Fernández-Gil, Ilpo Kojola, Sauli Härkönen, José María Fedriani, Harri Norberg, Veronica Sahlén, Ole-Gunnar Støen, Jens Frank, Jon E. Swenson, Petter Wabakken and other authors.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

AbstractThe 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.