Graphical factorial surveys reveal the acceptability of wildlife observation at protected areas

Approaching large ungulates at protected areas is dangerous both for visitors and the animals. To promote the use of safe distances, conservationists need to be sure about which factors influence the acceptability of human-wildlife encounters. In summer 2018, we recruited a sample of 202 visitors at the Gran Paradiso National Park (Italy). They evaluated the acceptability of nine digitally modified pictures, depicting a group of visitors observing an alpine ibex (Capra ibex) close to a trail. Pictures were characterized in terms of group size and distance from the ibex. Observing ibexes was deemed to be acceptable if visitors were further than 25 m from animals and when groups included less than three people. Approaching ibexes at 5 m was always unacceptable. The Potential for Conflict Index (PCI) was constant across distance classes and it was generally low. Our findings indicate that visitors share normative beliefs about the optimal distance and group size that visitors should maintain when observing large ungulates in the park. These normative beliefs are crystallized, because previous encounters with ibexes did not affect the evaluation of each scenario and because the PCI was constant and low. We believe that behavioral interventions aimed at promoting respectful and safe human-ibex interactions can be enforced in areas where this interaction is critical, mostly in the form of panels on hiking trails introducing normative pressures on visitors and motivating them to comply with rules.