Sharing Space, Realistically

by Derrick Alger

The world is filled with millionsof different creatures, many ofthem carnivorous. Humans, of

course, occupy a large amount ofspace on Earth.

However, we are not the onlycarnivores in existence.

Conservation of wildlife is a chiefconcern in the world and, inorder to conserve the lives of

other carnivorous species,humans must learn how to

effectively and safely coexist inthe same space as other

carnivores.

Unfortunately, many largercarnivorous species cannot be

contained to a preservation area,and are therefore put into

dangerous situations when theyencounter humans.

A recently published study takesa look at how humans and other

carnivores can peacefully occupythe same space.

The study was done in several differentcountries, with several different

species, such as wolves and bears. Theresearchers were attempting to

discover what factors could be changedto make humans and animals both

respond less aggressively whenencountering the other.

Both would have to adapt. Theresearchers found that there is an

inherent capability of each species toadapt to inhabitants of the other. For

example, animal carnivores are able toadapt to living in landscapes that have

been altered by humans.

Likewise, humans have shown theyhave the capability of getting used to

sharing land with carnivores, whetherit means changing the way they lookafter livestock, or altering cultural

practices to make room for otheranimals.

These adaptations, however, arenonexistent in several parts of theworld. People living in areas more

populated by humans, such as cities,never have to interact with

carnivorous wildlife.

This results in undesirableinteractions between said wildlife and

humans if and when they ever dointeract. The initial reaction of

humans to such conflict is to eliminateit altogether.

We build cities in which carnivorouswildlife only exist in zoos. We ensurethat we never encounter animals like

wolves and bears in our daily lives.

Researchers on this projects havefound that this is one of the worst

possible approaches. Unfortunately,when risk is decreased by humans, so

are the populations of several differentspecies.

Instead, this study suggests that weshould focus on how to reduce conflict

rather than eliminate it altogether. Wetherefore have to discover whatexactly breeds conflict between

humans and wild animals and work onreducing the factors to the best of our

ability.

Instead, this study suggests that weshould focus on how to reduce conflict

rather than eliminate it altogether. Wetherefore have to discover whatexactly breeds conflict between

humans and wild animals and work onreducing the factors to the best of our

ability.