Project
After centuries of persecution, the last wolf in Switzerland was shot in 1871. Legal protection, following the Bern Convention, and population growth in neighbouring Italy allowed its gradual return since 1995.
However, the recolonisation of human-dominated landscapes by large carnivores leads to complex interactions between humans and wildlife. As seen throughout history, the lack of social acceptance of a species may result in opposition and even killing. Conflicts with livestock owners and public fear are currently the biggest challenges for the wolf.
In November 2023, Switzerland was home to about 300 wolves. Since the amendment to the wolf management law in December 2023, about one sixth of the wolf population has already been shot.
My MSc thesis project aims to spatially model the ecological habitat suitability and the social acceptance of wolves in Switzerland. Analysing the combined socio-ecological suitability will allow to better understand changes and drivers of human attitude towards the wolves, as well as implications for management and the long-term survival of the species.
CV
- 2022 – present, MSc Student, Double Degree in Environmental Management of Mountain Areas at University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy, and University of Innsbruck, Austria
- 2017 – 2022, BSc Student, Liberal Arts and Sciences at University College Freiburg, Germany, and University Grenoble-Alpes, France
- 2016 – 2017, Volunteer Year at WWF Germany, Berlin