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Large carnivores and zoos as catalysts for engaging the public in the protection of biodiversity

Consorte-McCrea, Adriana ; Fernandez, Ana ; Bainbridge, Alan ; Moss, Andrew ; Prévot, Anna-Caroline ; Clayton, Susan ; Glikman, Jenny Anne ; Johansson, Maria LU orcid ; López-Bao, José Vicente and Bath, Alistair , et al. (2019) In Nature Conservation 37. p.133-150
Abstract
Addressing the biodiversity crisis requires renewed collaborative approaches. Large carnivores are ambassador species, and as such they can aid the protection of a wide range of species, including evolutionarily distinct and threatened ones, while being popular for conservation marketing. However, conflicts between carnivores and people present a considerable challenge to biodiversity conservation. Our cross disciplinary essay brings together original research to discuss key issues in the conservation of large carnivores as keystone species for biodiversity rich, healthy ecosystems. Our findings suggest the need to promote coexistence through challenging ‘wilderness’ myths; to consider coexistence/conflict as a continuum; to include varied... (More)
Addressing the biodiversity crisis requires renewed collaborative approaches. Large carnivores are ambassador species, and as such they can aid the protection of a wide range of species, including evolutionarily distinct and threatened ones, while being popular for conservation marketing. However, conflicts between carnivores and people present a considerable challenge to biodiversity conservation. Our cross disciplinary essay brings together original research to discuss key issues in the conservation of large carnivores as keystone species for biodiversity rich, healthy ecosystems. Our findings suggest the need to promote coexistence through challenging ‘wilderness’ myths; to consider coexistence/conflict as a continuum; to include varied interest groups in decision making; to address fear through positive mediated experiences, and to explore further partnerships with zoos. As wide-reaching institutions visited by over 700 million people/year worldwide, zoos combine knowledge, emotion and social context creating ideal conditions for the development of care towards nature, pro-environmental behaviors and long-term connections between visitors and carnivores. Based on current research, we provide evidence that large carnivores and zoos are both powerful catalysts for public engagement with biodiversity conservation, recognizing barriers and suggesting future ways to collaborate to address biodiversity loss. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Addressing the biodiversity crisis requires renewed collaborative approaches. Large carnivores are ambassador
species, and as such they can aid the protection of a wide range of species, including evolutionarily
distinct and threatened ones, while being popular for conservation marketing. However, conflicts between
carnivores and people present a considerable challenge to biodiversity conservation. Our cross disciplinary
essay brings together original research to discuss key issues in the conservation of large carnivores as keystone
species for biodiversity rich, healthy ecosystems. Our findings suggest the need to promote coexistence
through challenging ‘wilderness’ myths; to consider coexistence/conflict as a... (More)
Addressing the biodiversity crisis requires renewed collaborative approaches. Large carnivores are ambassador
species, and as such they can aid the protection of a wide range of species, including evolutionarily
distinct and threatened ones, while being popular for conservation marketing. However, conflicts between
carnivores and people present a considerable challenge to biodiversity conservation. Our cross disciplinary
essay brings together original research to discuss key issues in the conservation of large carnivores as keystone
species for biodiversity rich, healthy ecosystems. Our findings suggest the need to promote coexistence
through challenging ‘wilderness’ myths; to consider coexistence/conflict as a continuum; to include




varied interest groups in decision making; to address fear through positive mediated experiences, and to
explore further partnerships with zoos. As wide-reaching institutions visited by over 700 million people/
year worldwide, zoos combine knowledge, emotion and social context creating ideal conditions for the
development of care towards nature, pro-environmental behaviors and long-term connections between
visitors and carnivores. Based on current research, we provide evidence that large carnivores and zoos are
both powerful catalysts for public engagement with biodiversity conservation, recognizing barriers and
suggesting future ways to collaborate to address biodiversity loss. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Conservation biology, human-wildlife conflict, Large carnivores, ambassador species, zoos, biodiversity conservartation, Conservation biology, human-wildlife conflict, Large carnivores, ambassador species, zoos, Biodiversity conservation
in
Nature Conservation
volume
37
pages
133 - 150
publisher
Pensoft Publishers
external identifiers
  • scopus:85080043352
ISSN
1314-3301
DOI
10.3897/natureconservation.37.39501
language
Swedish
LU publication?
yes
id
1dbe574e-f860-47ed-88b1-0bc1cf665910
date added to LUP
2020-01-02 16:23:34
date last changed
2024-01-02 02:37:14
@article{1dbe574e-f860-47ed-88b1-0bc1cf665910,
  abstract     = {{Addressing the biodiversity crisis requires renewed collaborative approaches. Large carnivores are ambassador species, and as such they can aid the protection of a wide range of species, including evolutionarily distinct and threatened ones, while being popular for conservation marketing. However, conflicts between carnivores and people present a considerable challenge to biodiversity conservation. Our cross disciplinary essay brings together original research to discuss key issues in the conservation of large carnivores as keystone species for biodiversity rich, healthy ecosystems. Our findings suggest the need to promote coexistence through challenging ‘wilderness’ myths; to consider coexistence/conflict as a continuum; to include varied interest groups in decision making; to address fear through positive mediated experiences, and to explore further partnerships with zoos. As wide-reaching institutions visited by over 700 million people/year worldwide, zoos combine knowledge, emotion and social context creating ideal conditions for the development of care towards nature, pro-environmental behaviors and long-term connections between visitors and carnivores. Based on current research, we provide evidence that large carnivores and zoos are both powerful catalysts for public engagement with biodiversity conservation, recognizing barriers and suggesting future ways to collaborate to address biodiversity loss.}},
  author       = {{Consorte-McCrea, Adriana and Fernandez, Ana and Bainbridge, Alan and Moss, Andrew and Prévot, Anna-Caroline and Clayton, Susan and Glikman, Jenny Anne and Johansson, Maria and López-Bao, José Vicente and Bath, Alistair and Frank, Beatrice and Marchini, Silvio}},
  issn         = {{1314-3301}},
  keywords     = {{Conservation biology; human-wildlife conflict; Large carnivores; ambassador species; zoos; biodiversity conservartation; Conservation biology; human-wildlife conflict; Large carnivores; ambassador species; zoos; Biodiversity conservation}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  pages        = {{133--150}},
  publisher    = {{Pensoft Publishers}},
  series       = {{Nature Conservation}},
  title        = {{Large carnivores and zoos as catalysts for engaging the public in the protection of biodiversity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/natureconservation.37.39501}},
  doi          = {{10.3897/natureconservation.37.39501}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}