Grey wolf populations have already rebounded in Europe, growing 1,800 percent since the 1960s.
Declines in populations of big carnivores like lions, tigers and wolves may be driven more by rapid human economic development than habitat loss or climate change, according to a new study Tuesday.
The researchers hope the findings could help to improve policies for protecting carnivore populations, which have been driven to the brink of extinction in many parts of the world.
The study found that faster economic development was linked to a quicker decline in carnivore populations.
“In the midst of rapid development, people appear to become less tolerant of carnivores, conflicts explode, and we suspect that incidences of poaching and persecution rocket,” lead author Thomas Johnson said in a press release.
Some carnivores are poached for their meat or for the wildlife trade, while others like lions may be killed if they pose a threat to someone’s livelihood—such as their cattle—or their life, Johnson told AFP.
“These human elements are actually having a far greater impact than the habitat loss elements,” Johnson said.
Traditionally, habitat loss has been considered the primary threat to carnivore populations, but the researchers said that was “dwarfed” by human development.
The study, published in Nature Communications, concluded that as human communities become wealthier and socioeconomic growth slows, carnivore populations can recover.
The authors said this was partly due to better habitat protection, but mainly because people start to care more about the animals and have less of a desire—and need—to kill them.
“What you want is this growth to slow before [the carnivore population] completely vanishes, so there’s at least an opportunity to recover,” Johnson said.
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2023-01-29 09:30:01 Rapid development is main threat to big carnivores: Study
Original from phys.org Recent research by wildlife experts has shown that rapid development is a major threat to larger carnivores such as tigers, lions, and wolves. This study has serious implications for some of the world’s rarest and most endangered species, as without adequate protection they may soon be lost forever.
The researchers examined various human activities, including deforestation, mining, and farming, and their findings indicated that the rapid expansion of these activities is significantly impacting the habitats of the larger carnivores that inhabit the world’s most biodiverse regions. Specifically, they found that nearly half of the world’s largest carnivores are threatened by human activities, and the primary driver of this threat is the rapid development of these activities.
Furthermore, the researchers noted that most of these carnivores live in regions that are already heavily populated by humans. This means that human development, such as roads and settlements, often cuts off the animals from vital sources of food and shelter, forcing them to migrate or starve.
Sadly, the researchers concluded that many of these animals are already living in fragmented habitats and that their populations, in many cases, are declining rapidly. This is leading to the extinction of some species, such as the Bengal tiger, and the extirpation of others, such as the Mexican wolf.
To combat this threat, the researchers have suggested that authorities increase the amount of protected areas for larger carnivores and implement effective management strategies, such as controlling access to these areas. They also urged governments to create incentives to reduce human activities in areas where these animals live and promote sustainable development.
Ultimately, it is clear that radiation development is a major threat to the world’s larger carnivores, and immediate action must be taken to protect them. The results of this study are a stark reminder that these magnificent creatures are disappearing and that without urgent protective measures, these animals may not survive for much longer.