Large carnivores in Central Alps: the conservation of brown bear and wolf should consider the improvement of the “social habitat”.

Armanini M.a, Chirichella R.b, Bonavida A.a, Zibordi F. c, Mustoni A.a, Apollonio M.b a Adamello Brenta Nature Park b Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari c Istituto Oikos LIFE Ursus REINTRODUCTION Release zone: 1999-2002

10 bears (7 ♀ and 3 ♂)

Protected area Natura 2000

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 2 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - POPULATION SIZE and TREND 2002-2017 WITHOUT CUBS

Min number min. number Estimated number

Ne 43

bears

of of Ne

Num 20 23 + 11-13 cubs (2017) DISTRIBUTION Years

Good habitat suitability!!

Total area (24360 km2) Female area (1070 km2)

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 3 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY HUMAN ATTITUDE / SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE

2010 2003 1997

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 4 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY BACKGROUND 1. Predator attacks on humans are rare; 2. These events arouse a great media attention and can drive public perception accordingly.

General aim of the study: to evaluate bears behaviour in case of encounters and its driving causes in order to improve direct communication tools/subjects and reduce negative experiences.

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 5 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY Materials and Methods: structured interviews

2007-2009 2017-2018

1st phase 2nd phase

355 interviews 182 interviews

256 encounters 136 encounters

+ Attitude towards wolf

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 6 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY SIGHTINGS vs. ENCOUNTERS (529) vs (392) bear enter into a relationship with the man

The mean tolerance distance (i.e., the threshold distance above which the bear didn’t enter into a relationship with the man was about 50 meters but varied considerably (10-100 m) due to both environmental and intrinsic factors.

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 7 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY AIM 1: BEAR BEHAVIOR

To move away quickly 1 To move away slowly 2 N=392 To remain in place 3 To approach humans 4 Active reaction 5 Attack (6)

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 8 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY “Female bear attacks mushroom picker”

Dog Date Hour Bear ID Cubs Municipality presence 15/08/2014 10 AM Daniza 2 no 10/06/2015 5 PM KJ2 3 si Cadine 22/07/2017 7 PM KJ2 2 si

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 9 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY AIM 1: BEAR BEHAVIOR

7,9 0,8 To move away quickly 21,2 To move away slowly To remain in place To approach humans Active reaction 7,9 0,8 21,2 To move away quickly N=392 To move away slowly 41,1 To remain in place To approach humans 29,1 Active reaction

41,1 29,1

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 10 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY THE SHYNESS OF THE BEAR FOR HUMAN DECREASED

1) when females with cubs were involved, especially after hibernation period; 2) according to dog presence; 3) in open areas; 4) according to distance between man and bear.

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 11 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY AIM 2: HUMAN ATTITUDE POSITIVE

DON’T CARE DOXA 1997 NEGATIVE

“Waiting for a little bear…”

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 12 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY AIM 2: HUMAN ATTITUDE POSITIVE

DON’T CARE DOXA 1997 NEGATIVE “Ronzo, night of terror The bear returns and makes a bloodshed”

DOXA 2003

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 13 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY AIM 2: HUMAN ATTITUDE POSITIVE

DOXA DON’T CARE 1997

NEGATIVE

DOXA 2003

PNAB PNAB Not comparable!! 2007/09 2017/18

BEFORE ENCOUNTERS

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 14 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY BEFORE ENCOUNTERS

2007/09 2017/18

POSITIVE POSITIVE DON’T CARE DON’T CARE NEGATIVE NEGATIVE

AFTER ENCOUNTERS

22.7% ATTITUDE CHANGE 27.9%

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 44.8% MORE NEGATIVE ATTITUDE 84.2% 15 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY WOLF: THE SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE (STARTING POINT) NO 1) Presence awareness:

YES DON’T CARE

2) Attitude: POSITIVE

NEGATIVE

CURIOSITY FEAR 3) Possibility of sighting:

NO FEAR / INDIFFERENCE

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 16 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY WOLF: THE SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE (STARTING POINT)

“Dangerous wolves? They must be killed”

“Terrified by five wolves”

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 17 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY CONCLUSION: LARGE CARNIVORE SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE

Brown bear Brown High level Low level Wolf Low level 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 TODAY Large Carnivores conservation has to consider the improvement of the “social habitat”.

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 18 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY AIM 3: COMUNICATION STRATEGIES

1) to monitor human attitude;

2) to promote virtuous human behaviours based on scientific information (local data);

3) to promote more effective information and awareness campaign;

4) to provide information to modify regulations (e.g., dogs on a leash in protected areas).

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 19 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY SPECIAL THANKS TO… Dott. Luca Pedrotti Large Carnivore Division, Forest and Wildlife Service, Autonomous Province of Dott. Alessandro Brugnoli and all the game wardens Hunters' Association All the persons being interviewed

…and thanks for your attention!

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 20 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY …and thanks for your attention!

Dott. Marco Armanini Adamello Brenta Nature Park Via Nazionale 24, (TN)- Italy T +39 0465806656 [email protected]

HUMAN-NATURE INTERACTIONS AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT 21 INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP │ 27-27 NOVEMBER 2018 │ EURAC RESEARCH - BOLZANO/BOZEN - ITALY