Who’s more likely to get attacked by a wild animal?

By Mark Waghorn via SWNS

Hikers and dog walkers are the most likely to be killed or severely injured by bears, big cats and wolves, according to new research.

Attacks on humans by predatory animals follow a distinct pattern in wealthy countries.

They occur mostly during recreational activities - which also include camping, researchers found.

On the other hand, people in less well-off nations are prone to attacks during the working day - such as farming, fishing or grazing livestock, a new study revealed.

The findings are based on almost 50 years of data from 1970 to 2019.

An international team identified 5,089 reported attacks by large carnivores that resulted in harm - of which a third, or 32 percent, were fatal.

The number of reported attacks increased over the 49-year period - particularly in impoverished nations.

Frequency and context depend on socioeconomic and environmental factors, the researchers said.

Man and beast are increasingly having to co-exist because of climate change and a reduction of the animals' natural habitats.

Dr. Vincenzo Penteriani, of the National Museum of Natural Science, Madrid, and a co-author of the study, said: "When human recreational or livelihood activities overlap with large carnivore ranges, it is crucial to understand how to live with species that can pose threats to humans."

India was worst hit where almost three quarters - 72 percent - of incidents occurred followed by southeastern Africa with 14 percent.

Leopards were among the most frequently involved big cats - with children the victims in most encounters.

The global survey covered 12 species of carnivores in three families - bears, big cats and big dogs including wolves and jackals.

Dr. Penteriani and his colleagues scoured published and unpublished scientific papers, web pages and news reports.

Dr. Giulia Bombieri, of MUSE Science Museum, Trento, Italy, and another co-author, said: "Attacks in high-income countries were most common during recreational activities, such as hiking, camping, or dog-walking.

"Nearly 90 percent of attacks in low-income countries occurred during livelihood-related activities like farming, fishing or grazing livestock.

"Wild cats and dogs were responsible for more predatory attacks.

"But bears were more likely to attack when surprised, defending cubs or in food-related interactions such as scavenging human food.

"Most fatal attacks occurred in lower-income countries where tigers and lions are present."

Preventative measures should be tailored to the socioeconomic context, said the researchers.

In wealthy countries, these could include campaigns to educate visitors and residents in large carnivore areas about risky behaviors - and how to avoid dangerous encounters.

In lower-income countries, co-existence with large carnivores is mostly involuntary, researchers said.

Zones that separate humans and livestock, expanding protected areas and restoring habitat connectivity would be more appropriate strategies, experts added.

Initiatives will be challenging as the global population of humans will reach almost 10 billion by 2050, the scientists warned.

Dr. Penteriani added: "Factors triggering large carnivore attacks on humans depend on the combination of local socio-economic and ecological factors.

"It implies that measures to reduce large carnivore attacks must consider the diverse local ecological and social contexts."

The study was published in PLOS Biology.