Favouring human-large carnivore coexistence

Policy and management of large carnivores has shifted dramatically over the last century. Once viewed as vermin, with active attempts at eradication, these species today are protected, or classified as game animals throughout... [ view full abstract ]

Policy and management of large carnivores has shifted dramatically over the last century. Once viewed as vermin, with active attempts at eradication, these species today are protected, or classified as game animals throughout much of the world. How best to conserve these species in an increasingly human-dominated world is an ongoing challenge worldwide. While large carnivores show capabilities to adapt to human-dominated ecosystems, which supports the idea that separation is not a necessary condition for large carnivore conservation, the challenge remains whether human societies can accept and adapt to predator-inhabited landscapes. Here, on one hand, we present multiple cases of large carnivore adaptation to human-dominated landscapes around the world; on the other hand, we argue that favouring coexistence between large carnivores and modern societies requires multiple actions at the institutional, societal and individual levels, in order to legitimate coexistence approaches. These actions include removing or reducing the symbolic values of large carnivores, promoting adaptation of human behaviour to reduce risks and costs of coexisting with large carnivores, and recognizing not only costs, but also benefits of these species. Several elements important to achieving successful carnivore conservation outcomes and keeping a land-sharing model of large carnivore conservation are discussed.