Study shows that the disconnection between public perception and scientific reality on the abundance of wild ungulate populations in Spain, influenced by the media, conditions the social acceptance of population management measures for these species.
In Spain, wild ungulates such as the wild boar (Sus scrofa), the Iberian wild goat (Capra pyrenaica), the roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and the red deer (Cervus elaphus) are increasingly abundant. However, there is a notable disconnect between the status of their populations and their scientific knowledge and public perception of these species. Identifying the attitudes and perceptions of the public is a key aspect for the implementation of management policies for these wildlife species, especially when they are the protagonists of controversial situations, such as those involving the lethal control of individuals or the generation of conflicts with humans in scenarios of overabundance; since the success of a management strategy may depend on its social acceptance.
Proper management planning for wild ungulates requires understanding when society is willing to manage the population size of these species, choosing indicators that increase the likelihood of supporting management, and identifying the factors that influence management. This is especially crucial when such management includes the application of controversial methods such as population control.
In order to contribute to a better understanding of this general lack of public support for the management of wild ungulate populations, scientists from the Research Group in Health and Biotechnology (SaBio) of the Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC – CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), in collaboration with researchers from the Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (ICIFOR - INIA, CSIC) and the Department of Education of the Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), have carried out a study focused on the knowledge and perception of the general public on the abundance of wild ungulate populations in peninsular Spain.
The study revealed a general lack of knowledge about wild ungulates among the population. More than 50% of people could not correctly identify species such as the aoudad (Ammotragus lervia), the Iberian wild goat, the roe deer, the fallow deer (Dama dama), the mouflon (Ovis aries) and the chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra). In contrast, the wild boar and the red deer were the most recognized species, identified by 95% and 72% of respondents, respectively. This lack of knowledge is more evident in urban areas, as wildlife encounters are infrequent. On the other hand, older people and those living in rural areas demonstrated greater knowledge, probably due to their greater contact with the environment.
Percentage of respondents who: (a) recognized (or not) each ungulate species, (b) perceived (or not) situations of overabundance (abundant or very abundant populations), and (c) would like (or not) to see a decrease in populations. The circles with (+) and (-) indicate respectively that the frequencies of respondents with this perception were higher or lower than expected.
Although wild ungulate populations are generally increasing, society only perceives the wild boar as a species with high abundance (overabundant). This perception is influenced by the increased visibility and conflicts associated with wild boars, especially in urban contexts, where negative encounters with these animals are more common and are frequently covered by the media. Despite scientific evidence of the high abundance of certain species, such as the red deer or the Iberian wild goat, and the conflicts they cause, more than 80% of respondents preferred to maintain or even increase their populations. The results of the study only showed general support for reducing the wild boar population.
Perceptions of ungulate abundance and the conflicts they cause vary according to socioeconomic context, so that in urban areas a few interactions may be perceived as alarming due to low levels of tolerance and high media visibility of conflicts. On the other hand, variations in the perception of conflicts by socioeconomic context determine the most useful indicator (or group of indicators) to guide the management of these populations. Thus, in agricultural and livestock areas, the most worrying indicators are economic losses caused by crop damage and disease transmission. In urban areas, traffic accidents are the main indicator of conflict. This diversity of situations and perceptions shows the need for context-specific approaches to wild ungulate management to incorporate the concerns of society.
Overall, this study shows the disconnection between public perception and scientific reality regarding the abundance of ungulate populations in Spain. Lack of knowledge and the influence of the media condition society's perceptions of wild ungulates and their management. It is essential to improve education and promote less biased media coverage to promote a more realistic and balanced understanding of the situation of wild ungulates in Spain. The integration of societal perceptions into management strategies and the use of specific contextual indicators can increase social acceptance of management measures and improve coexistence with wild ungulates in anthropized landscapes.
The scientific publication of this research is available at:
- Carpio, AJ, Acevedo, P., Villafuerte-Jordán, R., Rodríguez, RS, Pascual-Rico, R., Martínez-Jauregui, M. 2024. Knowledge, perception, and awareness of society regarding (over) abundance of wild ungulate populations. Ecology and Society 29(1), 24.
