A University of Georgia study has shown that human presence could potentially influence the behavior of different species in the wild, according to earth.com.
The study, conducted at Namibia’s Ongava Research Center, examined how African mammals, including herbivores and carnivores, adjust the time of day they visit watering holes when humans are close by.
“When humans are present, some animals shift their daily activity patterns,” the study’s lead author, Jessy Patterson, said. “We think that the carnivores changed because of the human presence, and the herbivores changed because of the carnivore presence. It was not just one species that altered their behavior.”
The study tracked the animals’ behavior over two years and used hidden cameras to observe their habits prior to, during, and after tourist visits.
Without the presence of humans, animals adhered to predictable drinking schedules at watering holes. With humans around, some animals began arriving earlier, and others postponed their visits. This means species that usually avoided one another started occupying the same area, possibly endangering herbivores.
This research suggests that the negative impacts of tourism might not always be obvious. Some animals might suffer from increased stress due to humans being around, which may alter their behaviors and even have a ripple effect on entire ecosystems.
“I certainly appreciate wildlife-based tourism, and I support it,” said Patterson. “We just need to fully understand how we’re impacting the animals and come up with strategies to minimize that.”
While eco-tourism can aid conservation, the study indicates there could be harmful impacts that are worth considering. By doing so, plans can be crafted to allow humans and wild animals to coexist peacefully.
