Human dimension of wildlife interactions

Abstract

[Extract] The human dimension of wildlife interactions is a topic wide in scope, essentially interdisciplinary, drawing on anthropology, psychology, sociology, ethics, medicine, human geography, environmental science and management. This chapter draws upon these disciplinary lines and extracts theoretical perspectives, themes and concepts which are particularly relevant to understanding human-wildlife relations in the context of wildlife tourism. Within this framework this analysis will explore some general issues surrounding human interest in wildlife, the development of human-wildlife relationships, the nature and role of such relationships in human life and, in the wildlife tourism context, the consequences of these interactions for humans.