ATTITUDES TOWARD WOLVES IN SOUTHEASTERN NORWAY

Citation
T. Bjerke et al., ATTITUDES TOWARD WOLVES IN SOUTHEASTERN NORWAY, Society & natural resources, 11(2), 1998, pp. 169-178
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
Environmental Studies","Planning & Development
Journal title
ISSN journal
08941920
Volume
11
Issue
2
Year of publication
1998
Pages
169 - 178
Database
ISI
SICI code
0894-1920(1998)11:2<169:ATWISN>2.0.ZU;2-Y
Abstract
In some Norwegian regions conflicts between sheep farmers and wildlife managers have increased considerably in frequency and intensity. In o rder to gain more insight into the inhabitants' attitudes toward one c arnivore species, opinions about the preferred size of the wolf popula tion, attitudes and knowledge about wolves, and experience with animal -related activities were surveyed in southeastern Norway. The attitude typology identified by Kellert (1986) was applied. Of the total sampl e, 14% wanted wolves extirpated in Norway, 37% wanted the present popu lation reduced, 40% wanted it maintained, and 7% wanted it increased. The proportion wanting wolves extirpated or reduced increased as the p erceived size of the wolf population increased, age increased, and edu cational level decreased. The attitude profiles showed that old person s, pensioners, and those with only basic education expressed high domi nionistic, high negativistic and high utilitarian, and low naturalisti c scores, whereas young persons with higher education showed the rever se pattern.