Factors affecting attitudes toward reintroduction of wolves in Japan
Japanese wolves (Canis lupus hodophilax) became extinct in the early 1900s. Because the country is experiencing growth in populations of ungulates, the potential of reintroducing wolves to promote self-regulating biodiverse ecosystems has been discussed by various Japanese and international research...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Elsevier
2020-06-01
|
Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989420301153 |
id |
doaj-2728007b29ba4977a0d94ab651b090fb |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-2728007b29ba4977a0d94ab651b090fb2020-11-25T03:26:41ZengElsevierGlobal Ecology and Conservation2351-98942020-06-0122Factors affecting attitudes toward reintroduction of wolves in JapanRyo Sakurai0Hiroshi Tsunoda1Hiroto Enari2William F. Siemer3Takuro Uehara4Richard C. Stedman5College of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University, 2-150, Iwakuracho, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-8570, Japan; Corresponding author.Center for Environmental Science in Saitama, 914, Kamitanadare, Kazo, Saitama, 347-0115, JapanYamagata University, 1-23, Wakabamachi, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, 997-8555, JapanCenter for Conservation Social Sciences, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USACollege of Policy Science, Ritsumeikan University, 2-150, Iwakuracho, Ibaraki, Osaka, 567-8570, JapanCenter for Conservation Social Sciences, Department of Natural Resources, Cornell University, Fernow Hall, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USAJapanese wolves (Canis lupus hodophilax) became extinct in the early 1900s. Because the country is experiencing growth in populations of ungulates, the potential of reintroducing wolves to promote self-regulating biodiverse ecosystems has been discussed by various Japanese and international researchers. However, limited research exists regarding public attitudes toward the reintroduction of wolves, which is indispensable to the success of such projects. We conducted a survey of 360 undergraduate students at a university in Japan and found that while most respondents believed that government officials and local residents should be responsible for the decision-making, a majority felt that this responsibility should not rest with the general citizens. Multiple regression analysis revealed that respondents disagreed with the reintroduction of exotic species generally, while those who thought wolves are necessary to a healthy ecosystem were supportive. Text mining analysis revealed that those who disagreed with the reintroduction were thinking about “people” while those who agreed emphasized the need to control an increasing deer population and to prevent related damage. In contrast to previous research, our survey revealed that it is not people’s propensity for wolves (i.e., whether they like or hate wolves), but their understanding of the ecological impact of reintroduced wolves, that influences their support. In summary, our findings suggest that public attitudes toward the reintroduction of wolves may become more favorable if people were informed of the scientific findings that Japanese and continental wolves are the same species and that their presence will positively impact the ecosystem.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989420301153AttitudesJapanReintroductionUndergraduate studentsWolves |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Ryo Sakurai Hiroshi Tsunoda Hiroto Enari William F. Siemer Takuro Uehara Richard C. Stedman |
spellingShingle |
Ryo Sakurai Hiroshi Tsunoda Hiroto Enari William F. Siemer Takuro Uehara Richard C. Stedman Factors affecting attitudes toward reintroduction of wolves in Japan Global Ecology and Conservation Attitudes Japan Reintroduction Undergraduate students Wolves |
author_facet |
Ryo Sakurai Hiroshi Tsunoda Hiroto Enari William F. Siemer Takuro Uehara Richard C. Stedman |
author_sort |
Ryo Sakurai |
title |
Factors affecting attitudes toward reintroduction of wolves in Japan |
title_short |
Factors affecting attitudes toward reintroduction of wolves in Japan |
title_full |
Factors affecting attitudes toward reintroduction of wolves in Japan |
title_fullStr |
Factors affecting attitudes toward reintroduction of wolves in Japan |
title_full_unstemmed |
Factors affecting attitudes toward reintroduction of wolves in Japan |
title_sort |
factors affecting attitudes toward reintroduction of wolves in japan |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
Global Ecology and Conservation |
issn |
2351-9894 |
publishDate |
2020-06-01 |
description |
Japanese wolves (Canis lupus hodophilax) became extinct in the early 1900s. Because the country is experiencing growth in populations of ungulates, the potential of reintroducing wolves to promote self-regulating biodiverse ecosystems has been discussed by various Japanese and international researchers. However, limited research exists regarding public attitudes toward the reintroduction of wolves, which is indispensable to the success of such projects. We conducted a survey of 360 undergraduate students at a university in Japan and found that while most respondents believed that government officials and local residents should be responsible for the decision-making, a majority felt that this responsibility should not rest with the general citizens. Multiple regression analysis revealed that respondents disagreed with the reintroduction of exotic species generally, while those who thought wolves are necessary to a healthy ecosystem were supportive. Text mining analysis revealed that those who disagreed with the reintroduction were thinking about “people” while those who agreed emphasized the need to control an increasing deer population and to prevent related damage. In contrast to previous research, our survey revealed that it is not people’s propensity for wolves (i.e., whether they like or hate wolves), but their understanding of the ecological impact of reintroduced wolves, that influences their support. In summary, our findings suggest that public attitudes toward the reintroduction of wolves may become more favorable if people were informed of the scientific findings that Japanese and continental wolves are the same species and that their presence will positively impact the ecosystem. |
topic |
Attitudes Japan Reintroduction Undergraduate students Wolves |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989420301153 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT ryosakurai factorsaffectingattitudestowardreintroductionofwolvesinjapan AT hiroshitsunoda factorsaffectingattitudestowardreintroductionofwolvesinjapan AT hirotoenari factorsaffectingattitudestowardreintroductionofwolvesinjapan AT williamfsiemer factorsaffectingattitudestowardreintroductionofwolvesinjapan AT takurouehara factorsaffectingattitudestowardreintroductionofwolvesinjapan AT richardcstedman factorsaffectingattitudestowardreintroductionofwolvesinjapan |
_version_ |
1724591293285269504 |