People and Wildlife: Evaluating lethal control in the management of human–wildlife conflict

摘要: INTRODUCTION Throughout human history, agriculturists have used an array of techniques (irrigation, cultivation, fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides, fences, etc.) to give domesticated species a competitive edge over wild plants and animals. Often the cheapest most practical strategy came down killing competition – especially large vertebrates. Government agencies traditionally responded agriculturalists' needs without concern for wildlife survival. In fact, original mission many management was not protect wildlife, but rather kill all animals that threatened safety or agricultural development (Graham 1973). Because their slow reproductive rates low density, vertebrates proved relatively easy eliminate, as people added poison, guns bounty payments arsenal. Thus in name economic progress wolves were extirpated from USA few decades (Young Goldman 1944). Similarly, colonial officers ‘liberated’ vast tracts fertile land Africa elephants, leopards other threatening (Naughton-Treves 1999; Treves & Naughton-Treves 1999). Elsewhere world, formal informal lethal control programmes driven decline even extinction several (Breitenmoser 1998; Wilcove Woodroffe et al ., Chapter 1). Environmentalists today look back on these militaristic, morally charged campaigns horror. Their calls restore are inspired by increased appreciation non-materialist values wildlife. Now managers must respond two seemingly contradictory mandates.