Human-brown bear conflicts in Türkiye are driven by increased human presence around protected areas

Abstract

Human-wildlife conflict has become a major challenge to conservation efforts around the world. Brown bears (Ursus arctos), which globally suffer from reduced habitat suitability and quality, frequently conflict with humans. These animals need large home ranges to fulfil their habitat requirements. When space and food are restricted, brown bears frequently shift towards human-dominated landscapes that offer reliable food sources. Türkiye, a country with predominantly human-dominated landscapes, experiences frequent human-brown bear conflicts (HBCs). However, there has been no formal analysis of the nature and scope of these conflicts at the country level. Using HBC data from 2017 to 2022, we analyzed the spatial and temporal dynamics of HBC events in Türkiye , constructing a risk map based on anthropogenic variables and geographic profiling to identify the driving forces. HBC events did not show any annual or seasonal trends but displayed considerable variation across biogeographic regions, with the highest incidence concentrated along the Black Sea coast and in Eastern Anatolia. Sixty percent of all conflicts were due to bear foraging behavior in or near human settlements while 12 % were the result of human activity in forests, with 57% of all conflict events resulting in direct injury to either humans or bears. Our analyses showed proximity to villages, protected areas, farmland, and the human footprint to be pivotal factors influencing conflict risk. Approximately 21% of the country's territory is susceptible to human-bear conflicts, with a substantial portion (43%) of these risks manifesting within a 10-km radius around protected areas. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the high occurrence of HBCs in Türkiye primarily stems from the limited availability of natural habitats and resources for brown bears, compounded by increased human encroachment in and around core bear habitats.