Urban wildlife managers often consider the comfort level and attitudes of human residents in making decisions about problem-causing animals in cities. This study sought to gain an understanding of the attitudes and tolerance of Singapore residents towards three common problem-causing animals in their community. This study also investigated relationships between childhood nature experience and adult attitudes towards wildlife. While Singapore is a highly urbanized city, it still has about 20% forest cover and provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Some of these species cause problems for the human residents; and complaints about such are increasing every year.
Over 1000 Singapore residents (age 18-69) completed an online survey focusing on their attitudes and tolerance of common problem-causing animals in their city. Attitude was quantified by having respondents rate their like or dislike towards each of three common animals: long-tailed macaque, hornets, and pythons. Tolerance was quantified by having respondents indicate on a 5-point scale their acceptability of different possible management actions for dealing with each of the three animals. The survey also included questions about the respondents' frequency of green space use and frequency of participation in nature-related activities during their childhood (at or before the age of 12).
Over half (55.3%) of the respondents indicated that they seldom/ never played in natural environments or engaged in nature-related activities in their childhood. Most of the respondents also held neutral/negative attitudes towards all three types of wildlife. Further data analysis showed that low levels of childhood nature experience were associated with negative attitudes and low tolerance. Childhood nature experience proved to be the strongest predictor of wildlife attitude. Attitude, in turn, proved to be a strong predictor of level of tolerance. Decreased tolerance for problem-causing wildlife was associated with increased severity of damage caused by the animals. Older people had a higher intolerance and dislike towards wildlife than younger people; and males reported more positive attitude and tolerance for problem-causing wildlife than females.
The overall findings indicate that nature experiences during childhood can have long-lasting consequences for attitudes toward and tolerance of wildlife. This research highlights “the importance of childhood nature experience in shaping adult perceptions of wildlife and their willingness to coexist with wildlife.”
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