Fear beyond predators

Abstract

![Figure][1] Perceived threat. Fear complicates conservation. PHOTO: BARDROCK/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS In their Perspective, “Tolerance for predatory wildlife” (2 May, p. [476][2]), A. Treves and J. Bruskotter argue that when examining reasons for intolerance of and intention to kill predators, social factors (such as peer group norms and government-sanctioned predator killings) are more important than conventionally held views (such as measured or perceived threats to livelihoods). The authors use case studies on jaguars, wolves, lions, and bears to convincingly support their argument. With increased anthropogenic disturbance, species not traditionally viewed as predatory may respond increasingly aggressively toward people. Although attacks are rare, concerns about sharing landscapes with great apes may be motivated more by fear of physical aggression than other more common causes of provocation such as threats to livelihoods (i.e., crop damage). As with carnivores, tolerance by local people toward these large-bodied mammals is affected by deep-rooted social beliefs that can influence outcomes, including retaliatory killings. People's tolerance of wildlife can change quickly in response to shifting economic, demographic, and political conditions. To understand the potential for sustainable human-wildlife coexistence, human social change must be considered alongside changing wildlife behavior in response to human activities and across contexts (such as crop feeding, livestock depredation, and attacks on people) and species. To disentangle such complexities, conservation science must encourage collaborations between social and biological scientists. [1]: pending:yes [2]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.1252690