Human-Wildlife Conflict: The Human Dimension of European Bison Conservation in the Bieszczady Mountains (Poland).

Daniel Klich,Magdalena Perlińska-Teresiak,Rafał Łopucki,Agata Lenkiewicz-Bardzińska,Wanda Olech

doi:10.3390/ani11020503

Abstract

Simple SummaryThe study aimed to compare the attitudes to European bison of local village inhabitants in Bieszczady and city dwellers in Rzeszów. Our study showed that not only does the growing European bison population cause an increase in negative attitudes among local village communities, but this species also causes more conflict than any other herbivore in the Bieszczady Mountains. Village residents believed that the main threats that arise from the European bison were from the damage they cause and forest use limitations. The current compensation system for the damage caused by this species does not solve this problem, because over 60% of damage is not effectively reported to the state administration. The city dwellers of Rzeszów displayed a different attitude towards the European bison. We concluded that while educational workshops for local villagers may alleviate conflict in the short term, ultimately it is only by restricting the growth of the European bison population that a long-term effect will be achieved.An important limitation for the population growth of European bison in the Bieszczady Mountains may be the level of social acceptance. The study aimed to compare attitudes to European bison of local village inhabitants in Bieszczady and city dwellers in Rzeszów. We also investigated whether damage caused by European bison or other wild species changes peoples’ perceptions of this animal. Our study showed that not only does the growing European bison population cause an increase in negative attitudes among local village communities, but this species also causes more conflict than any other herbivore in the Bieszczady Mountains. Village residents believed that the main threats that arise from European bison were the damage they cause and forest use limitations. The current compensation system for the damage caused by this species does not solve the problem because over 60% of damage is not effectively reported to the state administration. The city dwellers of Rzeszów displayed a different attitude towards the European bison. We concluded that while educational workshops for local villagers may alleviate conflict in the short-term, ultimately it is only by restricting the growth of the European bison population that a long-term effect will be achieved.

Highlights

The European bison (Bison bonasus) has been successfully restored since its total extinction in the wild [1,2], and the most distinct changes have been observed over approximately the last decade [2,3]
What is the cause of the negative attitudes towards European bison in local communities? Our study indicated that they are the result of the perceived risk of forest use limitations and the damage caused by these animals (Table 1), which becomes more important when it is happens directly to one’s own property (Figure 4)
Our study showed that this increase in the European bison population is causing an increase in negative attitudes among local communities, and European bison have become one of the main conflict-causing species in the Bieszczady Mountains

Summary

Introduction

The European bison (Bison bonasus) has been successfully restored since its total extinction in the wild [1,2], and the most distinct changes have been observed over approximately the last decade [2,3]. These populations are not usually spatially connected with each other [10], and the spontaneous colonization of new suitable areas is rare [11], which results in the carrying capacity of forest complexes being exceeded [12,13] This has led to some populations using habitats outside of forest complexes [14], resulting in the following health and economic consequences: a threat to the European bison’s health from pesticides used to protect crops [15]; physiological changes in the mineral status of animals that feed on crops [16]; economic losses experienced by farmers; and less social acceptance of this species by local communities [17,18]

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