Data source: [ Drivers of human-tiger conflict risk and potential mitigation approaches]

Human-wildlife conflict has become a significant challenge for conservationists partic-ularly in areas where endangered species, such as large carnivores, are recovering. If we fail to balance the interests of humans and wildlife, human-wildlife conflict can have adverse outcomes. However, the drivers of human-wildlife conflict, and how to mitigate conflict, are often poorly understood. In this study, we aim to explore possible causes and potential miti-gating approaches for human-tiger conflict risks through spatio-temporal niche partitioning. Based on data of reports of Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) preying on cattle and cam-era-trap detection data from 2014 to 2019 in Hunchun, Northeast China, we predicted Amur tiger occurrence and created risk maps of human-tiger potential encounters. We found that Amur tiger occurrence was positively driven by prey distribution and negatively by the dis-tribution of pastures used for domestic cattle grazing. Predation on livestock was heightened in areas with limited preferred prey, i.e., wild pig (Sus scrofa) and sika (Cervus nippon), and in closer proximity to cattle grazing land. Based on our models we divided areas utilized by human and Amur tigers low, medium, and high-risk areas on the basis of Amur tigers and human use across multiple spatio-temporal scales. We suppose that multiple spatio-temporal scale niche partitioning management might effectively reduce the risk of human-tiger en-counters, prompt harmonized coexistence between humans and tigers, and provide new so-lutions for other areas experiencing human-wildlife conflicts.

人与野生动物冲突（human-wildlife conflict）已成为野生动物保护工作者面临的重大挑战，尤其在大型食肉动物等濒危物种正处于恢复进程的区域。若未能平衡人类与野生动物的利益诉求，该类冲突便会引发诸多负面影响。然而，当前学界对人与野生动物冲突的驱动机制及缓解路径往往缺乏足够认知。本研究旨在通过时空生态位分隔（spatio-temporal niche partitioning），探究人虎冲突风险的潜在成因与可行缓解方案。研究依托中国东北地区珲春市2014至2019年的东北虎（Amur tiger, Panthera tigris altaica）捕食家畜报告数据，以及相机陷阱（camera-trap）监测数据，对东北虎的出现概率进行预测，并绘制人虎潜在相遇风险图谱。研究结果表明：东北虎的出现概率与猎物分布呈正相关，与家牛放牧草场的分布呈负相关；在野生首选猎物——野猪（Sus scrofa）和梅花鹿（Cervus nippon）资源匮乏的区域，以及邻近家牛放牧地的区域，东北虎捕食家畜的概率显著升高。基于所构建的模型，本研究依据多时空尺度下人类与东北虎的活动重叠格局，将二者共同利用的区域划分为低、中、高风险三类。本研究提出，基于多时空尺度的生态位分隔管理策略，可有效降低人虎相遇风险，促进人类与虎的和谐共存，亦为其他面临人与野生动物冲突的区域提供了全新的解决方案。