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Attitudes toward jaguars and pumas and the acceptability of killing big cats in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: An application of the Potential for Conflict Index2

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Abstract

We explored the overall acceptability of killing jaguars and pumas in different scenarios of people–big cat interactions, the influence of attitudes toward big cats on acceptability, and the level of consensus on the responses. Data were obtained from 326 self-administered questionnaires in areas adjacent to Intervales State Park and Alto Ribeira State Park. Overall, people held slightly positive attitudes toward jaguars and pumas and viewed the killing of big cats as unacceptable. However, individuals that held negative attitudes were more accepting of killing. As the severity of people–big cat interactions increased, the level of consensus decreased. Knowing whether killing a big cat is acceptable or unacceptable in specific situations allows managers to anticipate conflict and avoid illegal killing of big cats.

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Acknowledgements

We thank B. Beisiegel and R. Bergamaschi for field assistance. We thank Chester Zoo’s Act for Wildlife for financial support of this research. We are also grateful to all the residents of Iporanga and Ribeirao Grande who shared with us their insights and time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geography Department, Memorial University, Elizabeth Avenue, St. John’s, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada

    Monica T. Engel & Alistair J. Bath

  2. Mammalian Ecology Lab, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil

    Monica T. Engel

  3. Human Dimensions of Natural Resources, Colorado State University, 1480 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO, 80523-1480, USA

    Jerry J. Vaske

  4. Forest Science Department, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, P.O. Box 09, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil

    Silvio Marchini

Authors
  1. Monica T. Engel
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Correspondence to Monica T. Engel.

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Engel, M.T., Vaske, J.J., Bath, A.J. et al. Attitudes toward jaguars and pumas and the acceptability of killing big cats in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: An application of the Potential for Conflict Index2 . Ambio 46, 604–612 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-017-0898-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-017-0898-6

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