Non-consumptive Use of Wildlife

Transcription

1 Non-consumptive Use of Wildlife Non-consumptive Use Any non-hunting or non-extractive use Examples: wildlife feeding & photography, bird watching, whale watching Non-consumptive Use Since 1955, US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) has conducted national surveys of fishing, hunting and wildlife-associated recreation One of the Nation's most important wildlife recreation databases Conducted (with US census Bureau) every 5 years Sample of 85,000 households Funded by the 1937 Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act 1

2 2006 Survey Highlights Over 87 million U.S. residents 16 years old and older fished, hunted, or wildlife watched 29.9 million people fished 12.5 million hunted 71.1 million participated in at least one type of wildlife-watching activity including observing, feeding, or photographing wildlife (non-incidental activity) 2006 Survey Highlights 31% of the U.S. population fed, observed, or photographed wildlife 13% increase from 1996 to % - 10% + 40% Participation Rates for Wildlife Watching by Geographic Region 2

3 Pacific Region Wildlife watchers in WA spend more than hunters and fishers combined Wildlife Watching Expenditures In 2006 Hunters and anglers spent $75 billion Wildlife watchers spent $45 billion Total = $120 billion, or 1% of US gross domestic product Feeding Wildlife "People" food is not formulated for animal consumption When animals learn that humans can provide a cheap and easy food source, they often lose their natural fear of humans 3

4 Feeding wildlife from vehicles Traffic hazards Costly property damage Animals dependent on human food sources Gather in abnormally large numbers Spread disease Backyard wildlife feeding Contaminated feeders predation (e.g., cats) Feeding Wildlife Case Study: Don t Feed the Dolphins (too much) Shark Bay s Eastern Gulf Home to 2 nd longest running dolphin research project (1982) Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) Population roughly 200 individuals Famous for amazing feeding behavior e.g., beach hunting (video) 4

5 Case Study: Don t Feed the Dolphins (too much) Since 1960s Humans have been feeding small number of dolphins (3 families, all females) that approach the Monkey Mia beach Behavior originated from boat begging Anglers fed dolphins fish scraps Originally a free for all Dolphins fed ad libitum; often given junk food Fed females lost most of their calves Spent too much time interacting with tourists; not enough teaching young how to forage Case Study: Don t Feed the Dolphins (too much) In 1995, based on findings of dolphin researchers Western Australia Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) implemented new feeding rules Maximum of 3 feedings per day Dolphins fed only fish in natural diet 25% of daily need DEC biologists manage the feedings Choose tourists from the crowd Provide instructions so that no dolphin is hurt or fed the wrong item Reproduction is back to normal 5

6 Ecotourism Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people - (The International Ecotourism Society) Ecotourism is growing 10% per year Ecotourism Principles minimize impact build environmental and cultural awareness and respect provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts provide direct financial benefits for conservation provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people raise sensitivity to host countries' political, environmental, and social climate Wildlife Watching Increasingly popular form of ecotourism Includes Bird watching, whale watching, wildlife safaris 6

7 Wildlife Watching Benefits Ecotourists will pay a lot for the opportunity Supplements traditional funding, which is inadequate Ecotourists, including wildlife watchers, invest more in local economy than other tourists Less filtering (money reaches areas where it is most needed Engenders interest in the environment, wildlife Increases support for wildlife conservation Wildlife Watching: Potential Costs Direct Altered feeding patterns e.g., displacement Altered social structure e.g., more grouping Mortality e.g., boat collisions (manatees) Communication e.g., Animals less likely to vocalize Indirect Species introductions, more roads/facilities, increased pollution (habitat degradation) Wildlife Watching: Take Home Message Ensure that, wherever ecotourism occurs, benefits outweigh costs We must not forget that ecotourism is potentially harmful to some wildlife species 7

8 Case study: Whale Watching Now a $2 Billion industry globally - Any costs to the whales? Case Study: Killer Whales, Salmon, and Vessel Traffic 8

9 Killer whale (orca) (Orcinus orca) With freshly caught Chinook salmon Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) spawning male coloration A Scat Sniffing Dog and Killer Whale Stress A B Low salmon run (B) Panels in column A the same Moderate salmon run (B) High salmon run (B) Ayres et al. (2012) PLOS One 9

10 A B Low salmon run (B) Panels in column A the same Moderate salmon run (B) High salmon run (B) Stress decreases with more salmon to eat Ayres et al. (2012) PLOS One A B Low salmon run (B) Panels in column A the same Moderate salmon run (B) High salmon run (B) Stress increases with boat traffic only when salmon run is high Ayres et al. (2012) PLOS One Tentative Conclusions Boating may have an impact on orca stress Harder to coordinate hunting (disrupted communication), perhaps? Or, close boats perceived as a threat? But, effect of food (salmon) scarcity is greater Can t worry about boats when belly is empty? 10