Wolf density has been steadily increasing in Europe in recent decades (Chapron et al., 2014). Due to the strict legal protection regulations by the European Habitat directive (Annex II and IV) wolves extend their habitat into areas where they were considered extinct for more than hundred years. Currently individual wolves from different source populations in and around the Alpine region regularly immigrate to Austria. A habitat suitability analysis for Austria (Georgy 2011) shows that suitable habitats for the wolve exist. Beside these individual wolves, in 2016, after more than 100 years, a reproducing couple was found again in Austria for the first time, producing four young wolves in the military training area Allentsteig in Lower Austria (Kubitschka 2017).
The returning wolves are a challenge for the traditional alpine land use. Especially alpine farming is affected. Every year more than 300,000 cattle, 100,000 sheep, 10,000 goats and 8,800 horses are on more than 8,000 pastures in Austria (Obweger 2017). For wolves, these livestock represent a relatively easy prey, which is why various herd protection measures and compensation models are discussed. In addition to economic impacts on hunting, some anticipate that wolves could impact tourism in the Alps. which is a main source of income in the Alps. Possible encounters with wolves, as well as livestock protection dogs, may elicit fear -ultimately impacting visitation behavior. Some experts also expect indirect negative effects on tourism by landscape change, if alpine pasture might be abandoned in the future.
The presented results will focus on behavioral intentions and the likelihood of behavioral changes. The findings are based on a representative online questionnaire for Austria about outdoor recreation activities and destination choices. The main method is a choice experiment, embedded into the questionnaire. This allows us e.g. to differenciate between the proved existance of wolves, the likelihood of its presence or its absence on destination choice.
Finally we also asked the respondents about prefered management options and spatial concepts.
Literature
Chapron G, et al. 2014. Recovery of large carnivores in Europe’s modern human-dominated landscapes. Science 346: 1517-1519
Georgy N. 2011. Habitateignung und Management für den Wolf (Canis lupus) in Österreich. Masterarbeit, Institut für Wildbiologie und Jagdwirtschaft, Universität für Bodenkultur Wien.
Kubitschka C. 2017. Der Wolf im Waldviertel am Truppenübungsplatz Allentsteig. In: Höhere Bundeslehr- und Forschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft Raumberg-Gumpenstein (Hrsg.) Bericht über die 23. Österreichische Jägertagung 2017 zum Thema Naturnutzung zwischen Wunsch und Wirklichkeit – Wo stehen Wild und Jagd?: 25-28
Obweger J. 2017. Großraubwild aus der Sicht der Almwirtschaft. In: Höhere Bundeslehr- und Forschungsanstalt für Landwirtschaft Raumberg-Gumpenstein (Hrsg.) Bericht über die 23.Österreichische Jägertagung 2017 zum Thema Naturnutzung zwischen Wunsch und Wirklichkeit – Wo stehen Wild und Jagd?: 37-38
Topics: Management of Human-Wildlife Conflicts: Large Carnivores in Europe
