Religious beliefs and wildlife value orientations influence tolerance of wildlife impacts in Bhutan

Abstract

ABSTRACT Understanding peoples’ values and beliefs relating to wildlife is important in regions where human wildlife conflict is prevalent. This study investigated wildlife value orientations (WVO) among subsistence farmers in Bhutan. We explored WVOs and how they shape peoples’ attitudes toward wildlife using 48 semi-structured interviews and 8 focus group discussions in four districts. A qualitative thematic analysis of this data revealed alignment with seven WVOs identified from the literature. Most respondents showed positive WVOs related to widely held Buddhist beliefs; however, negative WVOs were dominant amongst herders, whose livelihoods were most affected by wildlife. This leads to personal and community dissonance between societal religious beliefs and WVOs. Policies that address HWC should capitalize on positive societal beliefs and WVOs but recognize that herders will need a particular focus to overcome negative WVOs. Policies need to be redesigned to avoid future negative impacts on people, livelihoods, and conservation objectives.