Diverse antropogene drukfactoren: Uitdagingen voor behoud en bescherming van tijgers

Samenvatting

Human-centered development poses a threat to the future of tigers and other wildlife in many ways. One of the effects of this development is the conflict between humans and tigers, which has negative impacts on both parties. The problems of human-wildlife conflict are complex and require interdisciplinary knowledge, including ecology, social sciences, economics, veterinary science, etc., to understand the processes behind the conflict and its impact. A balanced perspective from both human and animal viewpoints is necessary for coexistence between humans and wildlife. Another effect of human-centred development is the spillover of diseases from domestic dogs to wildlife and vice versa. Potential disease transmission can occur through dog-assisted hunting on wild boars, making vaccination of dogs a key measure to prevent such spillover. Habitat loss and fragmentation are additional issues with human-centred development. In fragmented landscapes, tiger occupancy is still higher in secondary forests within the core areas compared to those bordering mixed agriculture or palm oil plantations. Effective management of natural resources by authorities, together with participation from the public, is key to preventing the extinction of tigers in Sumatra and likely other large carnivores elsewhere.