Researchers from the three Baltic states have launched a joint study on public attitudes towards large carnivores – wolves, lynx, and bears. Public surveying will be conducted in each country using online questionnaires. To reach a wider section of the population, questionnaires will be distributed through schools and will be available via a link that may reach you through a random selection process.
If your family has received a questionnaire from a school, please follow the instructions provided with the questionnaire regarding participant selection and how to complete it!
You can voluntarily complete the questionnaire until 10.07.2022 at this link – https://survey.ut.ee/index.php/431354?lang=lv
Large carnivores are controversial species that often come into conflict with human interests, so it is important to take public opinion into account when planning protection and management measures for large carnivores. Every person's participation in this survey is important to gain a representative insight into the attitudes of the Baltic states' residents, as the results of this joint study will contribute to scientifically based management of large carnivore populations and the reduction of human-wildlife conflicts. Responses from people of different age groups, places of residence, and professions are important. Every individual opinion matters!
A similar survey was previously conducted in the Baltic states in 2005-2006, while the last survey of this kind in Latvia was carried out in 2017. In the subsequent years, there have been changes in both large carnivore populations and their management measures, as well as in conflicts related to these animals.
In recent years, both bears and lynx have frequently been in the public eye in Latvia, which is why it is necessary to update knowledge about current public attitudes towards large carnivores. It is also significant to compare the survey results in Latvia with those of our neighbouring countries, as the wolves, lynx, and bears living in our country are part of the Baltic carnivore populations.
We would be grateful for your response and contribution! It will help us to consider public opinion and interests when planning protection and management measures for these species.
The study is being carried out by the Latvian State Forest Research Institute “Silava”, the Department of Zoology at the University of Tartu, the Department of Forestry and Forest Ecology at the Estonian University of Life Sciences, and the Nature Research Centre in Lithuania.
If you have any questions, please contact the study representative in Latvia – Agrita Žunna (agrita.zunna@silava.lv)