Bear-human coexistence rethought
The media uproar over wolf attacks on livestock in Switzerland and a bear attack in Italy show how charged the issue of large carnivores and humans coexisting in Europe is. ETH Zurich researcher Paula Mayer has now created a participatory model to help facilitate human-bear coexistence using the example of the Apennine brown bear.
In brief
- An ETH Zurich researcher is creating the first model to plot on a map the coexistence of humans and bears in a national park in Italy.
- Designed as a tool to be used in practice, the model identifies measures and areas that are priorities for promoting human-bear coexistence.
- The model is being applied to the Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise national parks, but can also be used for other regions and large carnivores.