AP Photo

Human attitudes toward wild animals are influenced by a number of factors, including demographics such as gender and age, socioeconomic status, level of education, and cultural experience. These attitudes, in turn, affect the interactions that people have with the animals around them; where some individuals might feel inclined to commune with wildlife, others might be more interested in chasing it off. In time, many animals may learn to discriminate between friend and foe, haven and wildlife war zone, and may change their behaviors accordingly. Understanding more about this process, and the links between these three factors, can be helpful in developing outreach programs, management policies, and conservation plans.