Shifting Attitudes Toward Brown Bears in Bulgaria: A Longitudinal and Regional Analysis

Shifting Attitudes Toward Brown Bears in Bulgaria: A Longitudinal and Regional Analysis | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL Wildlife Biology This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 10 October 2025 V1 Latest version Share on Shifting Attitudes Toward Brown Bears in Bulgaria: A Longitudinal and Regional Analysis Authors : Nikola Ganchev 0000-0002-1631-8414 [email protected] , Vladimir Todorov , and Sabrina Dressel Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176013559.98155738/v1 Published Wildlife Biology Version of record Peer review timeline 247 views 130 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Longitudinal research on public attitudes toward large carnivores is scarce, limiting our understanding of how human-wildlife coexistence evolves. This study works to bridge this gap by replicating a 2012 survey on attitudes toward brown bears (Ursus arctos) in four bear-populated regions of Bulgaria. Shifts in attitudes were analysed between 2012 and 2022 using data of 200 participants, and the influence of socio-demographic and regional variables was explored. Results reveal a significant positive shift in public attitudes since 2012, and decreased support for lethal control. However, persistent regional differences remain, with the Rhodopes region exhibiting significantly higher negative attitudes. The disparity is not explained by bear population density but likely by a combination of factors including landscape characteristics that increase human-bear interaction, lack of protected nature areas, higher rates of conflict, and ongoing rural depopulation. A critical finding is the mismatch between official monitoring data showing declining bear populations and a unanimous public perception of increasing populations, a belief strongly correlated with negative attitudes. Education and age were significant demographic predictors, with higher education and younger age associated with more positive attitudes. The results underscore the importance of continued longitudinal research to capture evolving attitudes and beliefs, while also highlighting persistent regional challenges that must be addressed to foster coexistence. Supplementary Material File (bear attitudes main document.docx) Download 6.16 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 10 October 2025 Peer review timeline Published Wildlife Biology Version of Record 14 May 2026 Published Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Collection Wildlife Biology Keywords attitudes brown bear carnivore conservation human-wildlife conflict Authors Affiliations Nikola Ganchev 0000-0002-1631-8414 [email protected] Wageningen University & Research View all articles by this author Vladimir Todorov Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences View all articles by this author Sabrina Dressel Wageningen University & Research View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 247 views 130 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Nikola Ganchev, Vladimir Todorov, Sabrina Dressel. Shifting Attitudes Toward Brown Bears in Bulgaria: A Longitudinal and Regional Analysis. Authorea . 10 October 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176013559.98155738/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. Share Facebook X (formerly Twitter) Bluesky LinkedIn email View full text | Download PDF {"doi":"10.22541/au.176013559.98155738/v1","type":"Article"} Now Reading: Share Figures Tables Close figure viewer Back to article Figure title goes here Change zoom level Go to figure location within the article Download figure Toggle share panel Toggle share panel Share Toggle information panel Toggle information panel Go to previous graphic Go to next graphic Go to previous table Go to next table All figures All tables View all material View all material xrefBack.goTo xrefBack.goTo Request permissions Expand All Collapse Expand Table Show all references SHOW ALL BOOKS Authors Info & Affiliations About FAQs Contact Us Directory RSS Back to top Powered by Research Exchange Preprints Help Terms Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences $(document).ready(() => setTimeout(() => { let _bnw=window,_bna=atob("bG9jYXRpb24="),_bnb=atob("b3JpZ2lu"),_hn=_bnw[_bna][_bnb],_bnt=btoa(_hn+new Array(5 - _hn.length % 4).join(" ")); $.get("/resource/lodash?t="+_bnt); },4000)); (function(){function c(){var b=a.contentDocument||a.contentWindow.document;if(b){var d=b.createElement('script');d.innerHTML="window.__CF$cv$params={r:'9febc2f2b865593a',t:'MTc3OTI4NDUxMw=='};var a=document.createElement('script');a.src='/cdn-cgi/challenge-platform/scripts/jsd/main.js';document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(a);";b.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(d)}}if(document.body){var a=document.createElement('iframe');a.height=1;a.width=1;a.style.position='absolute';a.style.top=0;a.style.left=0;a.style.border='none';a.style.visibility='hidden';document.body.appendChild(a);if('loading'!==document.readyState)c();else if(window.addEventListener)document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded',c);else{var e=document.onreadystatechange||function(){};document.onreadystatechange=function(b){e(b);'loading'!==document.readyState&&(document.onreadystatechange=e,c())}}}})();