Mitigation Strategies for Human–Tibetan Brown Bear (Ursus arctos pruinosus) Conflicts in the Hinterland of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

• Published in: Animals
• Main Authors: Dai, Yunchuan, Li, Yi, Xue, Yadong, Hacker, Charlotte E., Li, Chunyan, Zahoor, Babar, Liu, Yang, Li, Diqiang, Li, Dayong
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI 2022
• Subjects: Article; Ursus arctos
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9179409/; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12111422

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The conservation of Tibetan brown bear (Ursus arctos pruinosus) and its habitat is of great value to the conservation of sympatric species, which helps to maintain the health and stability of the regional ecosystem. In recent years, human–bear conflicts (HBCs) have intensified in the Sanjiangyuan Region in Qinghai Province, China, decreasing the tolerance of local herders of the species and seriously affecting the motivation of local communities to protect brown bears and other wildlife, with retaliatory killing posing a threat to their survival. Timely development of effective measures and countermeasures for mitigating HBCs is crucial to protect brown bears. The mitigation or resolution of HBC issues is beneficial to both the promotion of people’s livelihoods and the conservation of brown bears on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP). At present, there is still a lack of research on the mitigation measures of HBCs on the QTP. This study combined field surveys, semi-structured interviews, and HBC seminars to understand the effectiveness of current mitigation measures and to propose potential mitigation measures in the hinterland of the QTP. This work proposed targeted mitigation measures for HBCs taking into account existing HBC management practices in China and abroad, and the unique geographical environment, laws and regulations, folk culture, and religious beliefs of local regions. Although this study was limited to a single species on the QTP, the results herein are useful for drafting national-level wildlife conservation policies, compensation programs for wildlife damage, and natural resource conservation regulations. ABSTRACT: Personal injury and property damage caused by wildlife can worsen the relationship between humans and wildlife. In recent years, conflicts between herders and Tibetan brown bears (Ursus arctos pruinosus) (human–bear conflicts; HBCs) on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau have increased dramatically, severely affecting community motivation for the conservation of brown bears ...