title: Toward Human-Carnivore Coexistence: Understanding Tolerance for Tigers in Bangladesh.
abstract: Fostering local community tolerance for endangered carnivores, such as tigers (Panthera tigris), is a core component of many conservation strategies. Identification of antecedents of tolerance will facilitate the development of effective tolerance-building conservation action and secure local community support for, and involvement in, conservation initiatives. We use a stated preference approach for measuring tolerance, based on the 'Wildlife Stakeholder Acceptance Capacity' concept, to explore villagers' tolerance levels for tigers in the Bangladesh Sundarbans, an area where, at the time of the research, human-tiger conflict was severe. We apply structural equation modeling to test an a priori defined theoretical model of tolerance and identify the experiential and psychological basis of tolerance in this community. Our results indicate that beliefs about tigers and about the perceived current tiger population trend are predictors of tolerance for tigers. Positive beliefs about tigers and a belief that the tiger population is not currently increasing are both associated with greater stated tolerance for the species. Contrary to commonly-held notions, negative experiences with tigers do not directly affect tolerance levels; instead, their effect is mediated by villagers' beliefs about tigers and risk perceptions concerning human-tiger conflict incidents. These findings highlight a need to explore and understand the socio-psychological factors that encourage tolerance towards endangered species. Our research also demonstrates the applicability of this approach to tolerance research to a wide range of socio-economic and cultural contexts and reveals its capacity to enhance carnivore conservation efforts worldwide.
authors.affiliation: Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, Marlowe Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chloe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Inskip
authors.affiliation: Boise State University, Human-Environment Systems Center, Environmental Research Building, 1910 University Dr, Boise, ID, 83725, United States of America.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Michigan State University, 480 Wilson Road, Room 13 Natural Resources, East Lansing, MI, 48824, United States of America.
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.affiliation: Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, Marlowe Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, Marlowe Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, CT2 7NR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Douglas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: MacMillan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D001290:Attitude; D001459:Bangladesh; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D017753:Ecosystem; D056727:Endangered Species; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D058751:Livestock; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D046010:Tigers; D055815:Young Adult