Tourism & Carnivores UK... · for example, is the world’s most endangered cat. Used as the core...

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Tourism & CarnivoresTHE CHALLEN GE AHEAD

Copyright 2000 WWF-UKAll rights reserved

All material appearing in thispublication is copyrighted and may be reproduced with permission. Any reproduction in full or in partof this publication must creditWWF-UK as the copyright owner.

The authors have used allreasonable endeavours to ensurethat the content of this report, thedata compiled, and the methods ofcalculation and research areconsistent with normally acceptedstandards and practices but nowarranty is given to that effect nor any liability accepted by the authorsfor any loss or damage arising fromthe use of this report by WWF-UKor by any other party.

T H E W W F - U K C A M P A I G N

F O R E U R O P E ’ S C A R N I V O R E S

The plight of Europe’s largecarnivores has become an issue ofincreasing conservation concern.They continue to be persecuted byhumans, and in many cases theirhabitats are under threat. While the precarious status of Asia’s tigersis widely known, some of Europe’sown top predators, such as theIberian lynx, are in danger ofquietly disappearing. Others, such as the wolf, brown bear andEurasian lynx, face an upsurge inconflict with people as they attemptto reclaim parts of their formerranges. The WWF-UK Campaign for Europe’s Carnivores aims to raise funds and awareness tosupport selected carnivores andensure they have a viable future in our continent.

AC K N O W L E D G E M E N T S

This report was compiled by Dr Harold Goodwin, GarethJohnston and Caroline Warburton of the Centre for Tourism,Conservation and SustainableDevelopment in the School of Earthand Environmental Sciences at theUniversity of Greenwich. Thisreview of experience is based oninformation provided by touroperators, tourist boards and localoffices and the Large CarnivoreInitiative in Europe project staff.

We would like to thank thefollowing people for their supportand assistance: Kirsty Clough,Jenny Holland, Denise Meredith,Callum Rankine, Justin Swarbrick,Rachel Thackray, Paul Toyne,Justin Woolford, and The Rufford Foundation.

ContentsPR E FA C E 3WWF’S V I S I O N 4TH E BE N E F I T S 6

CA S E ST U D I E S F R O M EU R O P E 8RO M A N I A 9PO L A N D 12ITA LY 14SPA I N 16FR A N C E 18

TH E WWF CO D E O F CO N D U C T 20EU R O P E ’S CA R N I V O R E S 22CO N TA C T S 24FU R T H E R IN F O R M AT I O N 24

3T O U R I S M & C A R N I V O R E S : T H E C H A L L E N G E A H E A D

PrefacePreface

Wolves, brown bears and lynx are Europe’slargest and most impressive carnivores. They are also threatened across much of theirrange. But why should we care about these

animals when there are so many other endangeredspecies across Europe?

The Iberian lynx, found only in pockets of Spain andPortugal, is a matter of grave conservation concern: as the world’s most endangered cat, its tiny populationfaces possible extinction as a result of habitat loss. In contrast, other species, such as wolves, are beginning to expand their ranges, but unless the public starts toaccept their presence, there will be conflict and wolveswill be the losers. In Europe, wolves, bears and lynxplay a special role in our landscapes and they alsorepresent a healthy environment.

Europe’s carnivores, exalted in the past as prizedhunting trophies, circus attractions, symbols of powerand potency, and as creatures of myth, are an importantpart of our culture. Legends about their ferocity,cunning and intelligence abound: Little Red RidingHood, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Peter and theWolf, and stories of werewolves, are all testament to our fascination with these impressive beasts.

But in some instances this fascination has led to thedownfall of carnivores which have often been hunted or demonised to death – so there is an urgent need to support their conservation. Can we harness our interest and make it a positive force for the good? WWF believes that we can. One way is throughresponsible tourism.

WWF is calling on the tourism industry to look at thebusiness opportunities offered by carnivore tourism –opportunities which could help to ensure the survival of these extraordinary animals in Europe.

Vivid images of carnivores can be used to communicatea real sense of remote wilderness. A single image of a wolf, bear or lynx can express in one brochurephotograph what many landscape shots or a hundred words cannot.

The attraction of carnivores is sometimes more to dowith what they represent – untamed wilderness and thecall of the wild – rather than the animals themselves.Large carnivores are already used as powerful symbolsto promote conservation and to attract visitors, but thereis great scope for expansion.

One of WWF’s top conservation priorities is to raiseawareness and to educate people about large carnivores.The communities living close to carnivores areparticularly important in this respect, and WWF isworking to promote the benefits of carnivore tourism to local people.

This report looks at tourism and large carnivoreconservation in five countries – France, Italy, Poland,Romania and Spain – where WWF has been workingwith local scientists, conservationists and communitiesto ensure that Europe’s threatened carnivores survive in this new millennium. In one sense, these animals areEurope’s pandas, tigers and rhinos: we must value andprotect them.

WWF is challenging conservationists, park managers,communities, tourists and the tourism industry to worktogether for the survival of Europe’s large carnivores.Shared interests need to be explored. Take up thatchallenge today!

RO B E R T NA P I E R

Chief Executive, WWF-UK

T O U R I S M I N T H E B A L A N C E

WWF’s visioWWF’s Vision FOR CA RN I VO RE TO UR I SM


WWF recognises that successfulconservation largely depends uponcomprehensive land use planning,good agricultural practice andeffective natural resourcemanagement, and that, in somecases, tourism may be inappropriate.However, where it is controlled and well-managed, there is a strong supporting role for tourism.In these situations, WWF believesthat tourism can play an importantpart in protecting the environmentboth for people and for nature.

The presence of carnivores can be a valuable asset to the tourismindustry: it can, for example, beused as an income generator, asymbol of wilderness, a source oflocal and national pride, or as aneducational resource. Responsibletourism, therefore, has the potentialto provide unique opportunities for awareness raising, contribute tothe economic development of localcommunities and the conservationof habitats and species, and enhancecultural and historical traditions.

But these opportunities are mostlyunexplored. The tourism industry,local communities andconservationists need to find waysin which tourism, based aroundlarge carnivores, can be harnessedfor conservation, communitydevelopment and the provision ofexciting new holidays. Crucially,responsible tourism can encourageand maintain harmonious co-existence between people and wildlife.

For carnivore tourism, this meansestablishing partnerships betweencommunities, park managers andtour operators as well as local

governments and conservationists.Through partnerships, joint tourismand conservation initiatives can be developed. WWF believes thatthese initiatives should:

• develop joint marketing strategiesfor particular areas;

• promote conservation practices as tourist attractions;

• encourage cultural tourismactivities associated with largecarnivores;

• mitigate potential conflictsbetween communities andcarnivores; and

• extend conservation and tourism beyond the boundaries of National Parks.

For conservation and carnivoretourism to be successful, localcommunities should feel thattourism and carnivores are part of their future and that they willbenefit from both. In return, tourism

should support local accom-modation, shops, restaurants, bars,transport and guiding. Above all, it should also respect the natural,social and cultural diversity ofdestinations, and the capacity of local communities, wildlife and habitats to support a certain number of tourists.

Within these broad guidelines, largecarnivore tourism offers a new andexciting European product for boththe tourism industry and fortourists. For tour operators, it is a way of diversifying an existingproduct or marketing a new one, aswell as a means of being a carnivoreand conservation-friendly company.For tourists, it is an opportunity to enjoy the habitat of carnivores, to learn about them and perhaps to participate in carnivore research.The lucky few will even see a bear,a wolf or a lynx.

WWF recognises the potentialpositive role that responsibletourism can play in carnivoreconservation. There is, however, a paradox. Tourism can bringgreat benefits but, if mismanaged, it can damage the natural environ-ment upon which it depends.

WWF believes that if it is wellplanned and if it is managedsustainably, tourism can bringbenefits to protected areas andlocal communities alike.Responsible tourism should bebased on appreciating nature and culture, and it should beinformative and cause minimal

damage, disturbance or pollution.

To achieve these objectives,WWF is encouraging the tourismindustry to market the full rangeof a destination’s wildlife andculture. Tourists should beenabled and encouraged toexperience local cultures, as wellas the wildlife and its habitat, in ways that are enjoyable and donot have negative impacts. Localguides can play an invaluable role in enabling visitors to explore and understand local cultures,and to see as much as possible of the wildlife without causingunnecessary disturbance.

on for Carniv

T H E C H A L L E N G E

Responsible tourism is one ofseveral facets of Europeancarnivore conservation and manypeople think that:

• Birds and landscapes attract themost tourists and only a smallproportion of visitors hope tosee large carnivores.

• Carnivores are elusive and few visitors will see them.

• The appeal of carnivores as anunseen presence, where onlydroppings and tracks are visible,is only enjoyed by a minority.

• Tourism and research do notmix and tourist componentsneed to be built into researchprogrammes from the beginningin order to be successful.

• Tourism can play only a minorrole in the conservation of largecarnivores – land use polices,natural resource managementand agricultural practices areall far more significant.

However, all conservationistsagree that raising awareness and educating people about large carnivores is a priority. This is especially importantamongst the communities inwhich they live. By generatingbenefits for communities throughthe promotion of carnivores and their habitat, responsible tourism can make a real andunique contribution to carnivoreconservation.

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The BenefitsThe Benefits


THE BENEFITS

FOR CARNIVORES

Awareness• Tourism can increase a local

community’s sense of pride in, and value placed on, largecarnivores as a visitor attraction.A community’s sense of ownershipand involvement can open the way for discussion about conserv-ation measures or developmentplans, which may directly improve their livelihoods.

• Tourism can raise awareness of the threats facing Europe’sremaining large carnivores,indirectly helping to protectcarnivores from hunting andpoaching.

Research• Tourists can become actively

involved in carnivore research –for example, as volunteer wolftrackers in the CarpathianMountains, Romania.

• Tourists can help improveresearch facilities. In Bialowieza,Poland, for example, unusedhunting cabins have beenconverted into bear-watchinghides, which are used by tourists and researchers.

Finance• Loyalty schemes can help finance

conservation efforts. By becominga “Friend of the park” or “Buyinga fruit tree to save a bear” as in Abruzzo National Park, Italy,visitors can contribute directly tothe conservation efforts they haveseen in the field.

• Tourists and operators can makedirect donations to carnivoreconservation.

TH E BE N E F I T S

F O R TO U R I S M

Marketing• Large carnivores are a powerful

symbol of the wild and remoteparts of Europe. The Iberian lynx,for example, is the world’s mostendangered cat. Used as the core of a marketing strategy thatalso embraces other key species,protected areas and culturalaspects of the region, carnivorescan provide a strong holidaymarketing tool.

Education• As the centrepiece of an

information package, carnivoresoffer an exciting educationalopportunity through which touristscan learn about conservation and wilderness habitats.

• Carnivore visitor centres,information boards and leafletswith species information, can allheighten the tourism experience.

Added Value• Carnivores can add value to

holidays by offering more thansun, sea and sand, and they canform the basis of new products.New ways of experiencing theseelusive animals can be developed– for example, through walkingsafaris, on-foot tracking, infra-redand real-time closed circuittelevision, visiting observationpoints and meeting local wildlifeexperts.

TH E BE N E F I T S

F O R LO C A L CO M M U N I T I E S

Business• Carnivore tourism can generate

commercial opportunities for localentrepreneurs and provideadditional income through meetingincreased or new demands foraccommodation, restaurants, localtransport, crafts and local produce,tour operating and guiding. Wherethe industry is already established,carnivore tourism presents anopportunity to diversify – anexample being “Following thetracks of the wolf” tour inMercantour National Park, France.

Culture• Cultural heritage links may be

strengthened through the promotionof traditions such as story-telling,traditional shepherding techniquesand local crafts for tourists, andby promoting a village’s image as being “carnivore-friendly” – both of which occur in Italy and Romania.

Partnerships• Partnerships between

communities, tour operators, localgovernments and conservationistscan benefit all parties. In Italy,WWF is promoting the breedingof Abruzzo mastiffs, thetraditional guard dogs of Italianshepherds, and the Doñana 21Foundation in Spain involves all parties in discussions aboutsustainable development. Such initiatives not only reduceconflicts between farmers andcarnivores but also engage local communities in thinkingpositively about carnivoreconservation and tourism.

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Case StudiesCase Studies from Europe

TH E GR O W T H

O F TO U R I S M

Tourism is the world’s largestindustry. In 1999, internationaltourist arrivals topped 657 millionand tourism receipts totalledUS$455 billion. Globally, thisaccounted for 8 per cent of totalexport earnings, over 200 millionjobs, and 8 per cent of totalemployment. Nature tourism isthought to generate around 7 percent of all international travelexpenditure. In Europe, ecotourismprobably accounts for around 2 per cent of the market. But whiletourism overall has been growing by over 3 per cent annually, naturetourism is increasing at a fasterrate. Although nature tourism is not necessarily sustainable andcannot be classified automaticallyas true ecotourism, this growingdemand should be seen as the basis on which to build realecotourism and more responsiblemainstream tourism.

CA S E ST U D I E S

F R O M EU R O P E

In the following five case studies the

current tourism scene is reviewed

and the cases “for” and “against”

carnivore tourism are explored.

WWF’s aim is to alert the tourism

industry, local communities and

conservationists to the possible

opportunities, benefits and

disadvantages of carnivore tourism.

WWF believes that, in specific

European locations, tourism can

help support the conservation of

large carnivores and the sustainable

development of the communities

amongst which they live.


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TO U R I S M OV E R V I E W

Tourist attractions in the regionrevolve around winter skiing, thescenic beauty of the area, and BranCastle, the home of Vlad Tepes,inspiration for the Count Draculanovel. Dracula has been the keymarketing image for Bran in thecentral part of this study area.Recently, however, carnivores – in particular, wolves – have beenused to market the area. Promotionhas been greatly enhanced by theCarpathian Large Carnivore Projectwhich has generated magazine andnewspaper coverage about carnivoreresearch and the opportunities tothe travel industry. The “Wolves,Bears and lynx in Transylvania”programme, initiated by the LargeCarnivore Project, has developed atourist infrastructure through localsmall-scale family businesses andby designing and marketingprogrammes that are attractive tonational and foreign tourists. Thetourism experience on offer reflectsthe importance of local people inthe conservation of large carnivores,and tourists are encouraged to meetlocal people and to be activelyinvolved in the project. Currentresearch work is presented andexplained, and the importance of acollaborative approach to carnivoreconservation is stressed to hosts and guests alike.

Zarnesti is the main focus of thelarge carnivore tourismdevelopment programme wherethere is a tourism bureau, fourpensions, a local tour operator,bicycle rental and horse-ridingenterprises, horse-and-cart taxisand a bear observation hide (a converted hunting hut). A tourism association promotes andcoordinates tourism and ensuresthat it is managed to minimiseadverse impacts. The project field

In many respects, the Large Carnivore Project in the Carpathian

Mountains of Romania presents a model example of how responsible

tourism can help carnivore conservation. As Christoph Promberger,

the project manager, states, “animal lovers are as much of a problem

as hunters – we place great emphasis upon demonstrating to our

visitors what the problems are and what possible solutions exist.”

RomaniaRomaniaCARPATH IAN LA RGE CARN I VO RE PRO JECT

Tourism Base• Winter skiing, summer trekking,

Bran (Dracula) Castle, wolves

Carnivore Tourism• The “Wolves, Bears and lynx

in Transylvania” programmeinitiated by the Large Carnivore Project

• An educational approach means tourists meet localpeople and are actively involved in the project

Tourism Infrastructure• Tourism association

and bureau• 4 pensions• Local operator• Bicycle rental• Horse-riding• Bear observation hide• Project field station

with two wolves

Visitors• 40 groups expected in 2000• 289 visitors so far involved

in the programme, mainly from Austria, Britain, Germany and Switzerland

Tourist Revenue• 1999: $130,570, of which

53 per cent went to the local community through local tour operator, catering and transport services

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1 0T O U R I S M & C A R N I V O R E S : T H E C H A L L E N G E A H E A D

station, with two wolves in anenclosure, creates an additionalattraction. Wild wolves are rarelysighted, although bear sightings are common. There are few touristfacilities within the National Parkwhere walking and trekking are the most popular activities in thesummer – particularly for domestictourists.

The number of groups visiting thearea has increased from 8 to 22between 1997 and 1999, with 40groups expected in 2000. A total of 289 visitors have been involvedin the programme, mainly fromAustria, Germany, Switzerland andthe United Kingdom. The tourismrevenue in 1999 totalled $130,570,of which 53 per cent went to thelocal community through theservices of local tour operators,catering and transport.

Since the closure of two factories,Zarnesti has been experiencing an economic decline and tourism is seen as a way to help regeneratethe city. The Carpathian LargeCarnivore Project is addressingregeneration by working closelywith Zarnesti Council, which hasthe resources to engage the wholecommunity in a comprehensiveconsultation and communitydevelopment process.

Developed tourism is currentlysmall-scale with limited, butenthusiastic, local involvement. The tourist facilities in the area areall locally-owned and, significantly,local game wardens from theRomanian State Forest Administ-ration, the National ParkAdministration, and the local mayor

and council, are all involved in theproject. Recently, Zarnesti Counciladopted a vision for the city thatrecognised the importance of largecarnivores and community-basedtourism, and it has since invested in a tourism bureau.

The Large Carnivore Projectprovides advice for local peopleinterested in setting up tourismbusinesses. The community ofZarnesti recently rejected large-scale tourism developmentproposals in favour of the continued growth of small-scalelocally-based tourism, with theconservation of large carnivores as an essential priority.

PR O J E C T OV E R V I E W

The Romanian CarpathianMountains are one of the last strong-holds of large carnivores in Europe.lynx have been protected since1934, and wolves and bearsreceived complete protection in 1996. Controlled hunting of allthree species is permitted wheresignificant damage to livestock is reported.

The Carpathian Large CarnivoreProject was established in 1995 by the Munich Wildlife Society in cooperation with the RomanianState Forest Administration. Its objective is to conserve largecarnivores and their habitatsthrough an integrated managementapproach. The project usesecotourism as the main tool to assist

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in the rural development of thearea, by combining conservation oflarge carnivores with community-based tourism initiatives. A valuablemodel for the development of largecarnivore tourism in and aroundprotected areas in Europe has emerged from this project.

Included in the project area are thePiatra Craiului National Park andtwo mountain ranges, Cuicas andBucegi. The project area thuscontains all types of forest, frombeech at the lower altitudes, mixedforest between 900m and 1,500m,and spruce forest below the 1,800mtimberline. An impressive range ofEuropean mammals can be found in

the region, including brown bear,wolf, lynx and their prey species –red deer, roe deer, wild boar and chamois.

Threats to carnivores includehabitat destruction, poaching inresponse to livestock losses andincreased hunting of both carnivoreprey and carnivores themselves.

The forest is an important economicresource in this area, providing jobs in the state forest as well as in local saw and pulp mills. The forest also provides food andsupplementary income for gypsycommunities through wild berry and mushroom picking.

Away from the cities, agriculture is the main economic activity andshepherds with dogs guard herds of up to 1,000 sheep. Traditionalshepherding methods are used to guard flocks against wolves,involving pens and mountain dogs,and are being actively encouragedand supported by the CarpathianLarge Carnivore Project. Sheep areused to produce cheese, meat andwool products.

SU M M A R Y

The Carpathian Large CarnivoreProject is a valuable example of the role that carnivore tourism can play in:

• supporting conservation;• generating income for the local

community; and• raising awareness about

carnivores among tourists.

F U T U R E O U T L O O K F O R D E B AT E

Opportunities• Continued and steady long-

term growth in large carnivoreand nature-based tourism to the region

• Successful marketing andagreements with nature-basedtour operators in touristoriginating countries

• Increased significance of largecarnivore tourism to the localeconomy and identity of the region

• Local communities playing aleading role in the managementand conservation of largecarnivores and their habitats – independent management by 2003

Obstacles• Pressure for more rapid

economic development• Only a small proportion of the

community benefiting from largecarnivore tourism

• Conflicting aspirations of localfarmers and hunters with theemerging tourism industry

• Wild wolves rarely sighted,although bear sightings common

• Few tourist facilities offeredwithin the National Park


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PolandPolandB IALOWIEZA N AT I O N AL PARK



The Polish National Tourist Officeuses The Natural Choice andWonders of Nature as core themesin its promotion of the country. Rich in bird life and with largeherds of European bison, deer andelk, Poland has much to attract the tourist interested in nature. Bears are limited to the CarpathianMountains in the south-east, whilstwolves and lynx generally occuronly in the large forested areas in northern and eastern Poland. A small population of lynx has been successfully reintroduced to Kampinoski National Park, near Warsaw.

The state-owned BialowiezaNational Park, on the border withBelorussia, is a designated WorldHeritage Site, and a Man and theBiosphere Reserve. Established in1921, Bialowieza is Poland’s oldestNational Park and is Europe’s lastprimeval lowland forest. Bialowiezahas 56 species of mammal includingbison, wolf, Eurasian lynx, otter andbeaver, and 232 bird species, 120 of which breed within the boundariesincluding the black stork, pygmyand eagle owls, spotted and bootedeagles, white-backed woodpecker,nutcracker and red-breastedflycatcher.

The 4km of tourist paths enablevisitors to see much of the bird life,and the bison breeding station – part of the successful re-introduc-tion programme – gives visitors an opportunity to see these largemammals close up. Sightings oflarge carnivores are rare, butevidence of their presence, such as paw prints, can be identified for visitors. For those wanting to see carnivores in the wild, their best chance is to visit at the end of winter and in early spring when the trees are bare and carnivoresare more easily spotted against the snow.

Visitor numbers have almostdoubled since 1996: up to 40,000people visited the park in 1999, andan estimated $61,000 was generatedfor the park through tourism. The local community is involved inforestry and tourism in and aroundBialowieza, with close to 20 localcommunity-based tourism activities,such as guided walks, offered in the park. The majority of the park’svisitors are nature lovers fromPoland and the rest of Europe.


Tourism Base• Birding, bison and elk• Walking, cart (summer)

and sled (winter) rides

Carnivore Tourism• Snow-tracking wolves and

research activity

Tourism Infrastructure• Tourist paths• Guided walks• Youth hostel• Hotel accommodation• Campsites• 1999: 30 B&Bs

Visitors• 1999: 30-40,000

(doubled since 1996)

Tourist Revenue• $61,000 in 1999

Bialowieza National Park could easily become another model project for

carnivore tourism if it incorporates best practice elements from the Romanian

Large Carnivore Project, such as increased community involvement. Apart

from large carnivores, the National Park has other attractions including a rich

diversity of bird life and a ready-made tourist infrastructure, and it is the only

surviving example of the once extensive primeval wildwood in Europe.

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or sled rides through the park.Musicians, bee keepers, craftsmanand bicycle owners are alsoinvolved and all groups stay in local accommodation.

The elusiveness of large carnivoresis promoted as part of their allure:seeing tracks and calling for wolvesare very much the attraction. The growth of interest in specialisttourism in the park is offering localcommunities the opportunity tobenefit directly from tourism, andprovides tangible economicincentives to conserve the wildlifein Bialowieza. Engaging tourists in large carnivore research in the park not only assists with theresearch itself, but also drawstogether the interests of thecommunity, park management and local authorities.


Opportunities• Increased prominence and

importance of large carnivoresin promoting Bialowieza

• Increased importance of tourismin the economic development of Bialowieza

• Increased visitor awareness oflarge carnivores in Bialowieza

• Resources to fund research,management and protection oflarge carnivores in Bialowieza

• Local communities valuinglarge carnivores as a naturalasset to their community

• Local communities playing akey role in the conservation andmanagement of large carnivores

Obstacles• Development pressures on

Bialowieza detrimental to largecarnivore conservation

• Increased tourism vehicle trafficand large carnivore road deaths

• Unrealistic visitor expectationsand demands to see largecarnivores

• Disturbance of large carnivoreden sites and displacement of populations

• Conflicts of interest betweenvisitors’ expectations and localcommunity lifestyles


SU M M A R Y

Increasing interest in naturetourism and the tourism revenuegenerated in Bialowieza NationalPark provides a strong foundationfor the development of a viablelarge carnivore tourism programme.

The main tourist facilities are in the village of Bialowieza, althoughHajnowka and other villages aroundthe park offer accommodation fortourists. Facilities include a youthhostel, campsites, restaurants and hotels.

There is concern about therelatively large proportion of dayvisitors to the park and theassociated road traffic. Overnightvisitors contribute more to the localeconomy, and the local authority is increasingly supporting tourismdevelopment and encouraging localpeople to set up tourism enterprisessuch as B&B accommodation. Since 1992 the number of B&Bs in Bialowieza has increased from 2 to 30.

Valuable additional funds andresources have been raised throughthe development of nature tours toBialowieza Primeval Forest. TheMammal Research Institute of thePolish Academy of Sciences is radiotracking wolves and studying theirbehaviour and a percentage of thefee is donated, either in cash or in equipment, to research. Touristshelp with radio tracking, wildlifesurveys, snow tracking anddebriefing sessions to discussobservations recorded during theday. Spending a considerable timein the forest dramatically increasesa visitor’s chance of seeingcarnivores. With training andguiding, the data collected by thetourists is reliable and valuable and is used to aid the conservationof wolves in Bialowieza.

Tours employ local people andguides. For example, localhorsemen take tourists on cart

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ItalyItalyABRUZZO NAT I O N AL PARK & REG I O N



Abruzzo National Park provides freeaccess for up to 2.5 million visitorsa year and there are a number ofvisitor centres within the park itself.The main centre for the park is thevillage of Pescasseroli. The sevenvisitor centres receive ±400,000visitors each year. There are 10information offices and a “Museodel lupo appenninico” (wolfmuseum). There are nature trails,marked tourist paths and over 50kmof road. Most visitors are Italians –many are day-trippers from Rome or Pescara – although the region isstarting to attract foreign tourists.

There are five villages within theNational Park and 17 adjacent tothe park boundaries. The maineconomy for local people is tourism,with skiing in winter and naturetourism in summer. There is also avibrant livestock farming commu-nity with a strong shepherdingtradition. The Acropolis, Curino and Necropolis at Alfedena are themain cultural sites but, throughoutthe area, hermitages and churchesare scattered in the rock faces andon sites of previous pagan temples,sanctuaries and Roman towns.

The National Park provides 50permanent and 50 temporary jobsand it is estimated that each jobproduces five or six indirectemployment opportunities in relatedfields such as lodgings, catering andtransport. The villages within thepark are heavily involved in tourismand are thriving with the increasednumbers of visitors to the area.Local communities provide accom-modation, restaurants and othertourist facilities, as well as sellingtraditional crafts. The averagevisitor spends an estimated $28 aday in a 1-3 day stay, yielding $28million to the local economy. Thereare 33 hotels and pensions in thepark, providing some 1,600 beds.

Abruzzo, the “green heart of Italy”, contains stable populations of bear, wolf

and lynx. A third of the region is protected by three National Parks as well as

several regional parks and 20 protected areas. Because of its proximity to

Rome, the region is popular in all seasons with coastal and mountain tourism,

including winter skiing. Beyond marketing, carnivore tourism is undeveloped.


Tourism Base• “Green heart of Italy”• Archaeological sites• World Heritage Site • Carnivore Tourism

marketing purposes only

Tourism Infrastructure• 7 visitor centres• 10 information offices• Wolf museum• Extensive tourist paths• 33 hotels and pensions

within the park

Visitors• 2-2.5 million annually

(400,000 to visitor centres)

Tourist Revenue• $28 million annually

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ABRUZZO NAT PARKR O M A


Italythought to be extinct in the park aslong ago as the 1920s but, in 1993,it re-emerged although populationsare still extremely low.

The park functions as a focus forconservation and protection ofspecies that range well beyond itsborder. In 1994, in response to cases of bears being killed outsidethe park either by cars or throughpoaching, WWF-Italy and theNational Park Authorities launcheda campaign to plant 3,000 appletrees. This successfulcampaign involvedprivate landownersand villages withinthe park, thusincreasing its foodsupply for bearsand encouragingthem to remainwithin the parkboundaries.

SU M M A R Y

Tourism is the main economicactivity in Abruzzo which uses thebear as the key marketing icon forthe National Park. Although thereare opportunities to expand tourismactivities, a careful balancebetween tourism and conservationin Abruzzo needs to be maintained.


Abruzzo National Park, establishedin 1923, has a variety of habitatsand landscapes including mixedforests of beech and oak, pasture-land, alpine meadows and rockyterrain. The climate is cold-temperate with snow fromDecember to March but with hotsummers. Part of the centralApennine range, 150 km south-eastof Rome, is a World Heritage Site. It is largely privately owned. Thereare 40 species of mammal in thepark including brown bear, wolf,Eurasian lynx, wildcat, otter, stone marten, badger and polecat.There are over 300 species of birdincluding golden eagle, goshawk,buzzard, eagle owl and the rarewhite-backed woodpecker. Thepark’s wolf population is estimatedto be 50 (12 per cent of the Italianpopulation) together with around 80 brown bears and 10 lynx. Thesepopulations are reported to beincreasing. The Eurasian lynx was

The wolf and bear have been usedvery successfully to market AbruzzoNational Park, with the Marsicanbrown bear adopted as its logo.Images of both wolf and bear are used on marketing materials,sticker production, creation of motifs and logos, production of brochures, leaflets, postcards,booklets and research publications.However, sighting of these speciesis not the primary attraction, asemphasis is placed on the beauty of the landscape and scenery, whichis the habitat of large carnivores.

The success of tourism has broughtconsiderable economic benefits tolocal people and there is growingevidence that large carnivorepopulations are at least stable andmay be increasing. This helps topreserve the traditional lifestyles of local livestock farmers withtraditional shepherding practices,such as the use of Abruzzo mastiffsto guard sheep.


Opportunities• To diversify and promote

tourism that actively engagestourists in conservation

• Additional resources andsupport from the tourismindustry for large carnivoreconservation

• Marketing of traditionalcommunity lifestyles alongsidethe natural values of the region

• Increasing awareness of theconservation issues andsignificance of large carnivoresto the region

Obstacles• Predominance of mainstream

tourism with increasing impactand little benefit for largecarnivore conservation

• Disenfranchisement oftraditional communities notdirectly involved in tourism

• Little incentive to protect largecarnivores and habitats outsidethe National Park

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SpainSpainDOÑANA N AT I O N AL PARK


More than 350,000 visitors a yearvisit the park and its five visitorcentres. Facilities includeinformation centres in El Rocio and Puebla del Rio. Other plannedcentres include a theme park andlarge coastal museum to be openedin Matalascanas in 2001. The morecentral areas can be reached only inescorted groups run by recognised,mostly local, commercial operators,either on land (4WD, horse, bike or walking) or by boat. Visitors are limited to 250 a day in theserestricted areas. Between 1987 and 1996 only 51.3 per cent of the visitor quota was used, largelyowing to seasonal fluctuations invisitor numbers. Most tourists arefrom Spain and Germany. Specialinterest groups include hikers(predominantly Spanish and British) and nature lovers (Spanish,British, German and Portuguese)who usually come specifically to see birds.

Since the 18th century, an annualpilgrimage, La Romeria en honor de la Virgen del Rocio, has beenone of the most popular in Spain.More than a million pilgrims gatherin the village of El Rocio on thenorthern boundary on the daybefore Whit Sunday and over20,000 pass through the park

during this period. Their passage is free of charge and involves anumber of nights’ rough camping.Other traditional activities withinthe park include horse breeding(the horses are set loose to live in the wild all year round),river crab fishing, bulrush cuttingand salt extraction. Thesetraditional activities are carefullymonitored but there are concernsthat the influx of pilgrims throughthe park impacts on the solitary,elusive habits of the Iberian lynx.Increased traffic on the roads is afurther serious threat to the lynx,even though tunnels have beenconstructed for their safe passage.

Some 15,000 people live around(though not in) the park and anumber of large tourist develop-ments exist in the immediate area.The park creates 57 full-time jobs.

The Doñana 21 Foundationrepresents the interests of business,the park, regional government andthe community and has beenestablished to examine sustainabledevelopment. The Foundation hasdeveloped a “green” quality-labelling scheme for tourismoperators and businesses in andaround the park. The scheme

involves auditing tourism operatorsand businesses and aims to informtourists about which operators are offering responsible tourismexperiences in the park.

The major mass tourism develop-ment is Matalascanas, whichdominates Doñana. The resortoccupies 5km of coastline in front of Doñana and contains hotels,restaurants and nightclubs.

Doñana National Park presents a challenging opportunity for carnivore

tourism. Adjacent to mass tourism resorts on the Costa de la Luz, the park

needs careful protection from uncontrolled tourism development. Increasing

tourist traffic and an expanding road system mean the park is in danger

of becoming an isolated island of wilderness. However, strong cultural and

community ties to the park already exist, and the Iberian lynx is a powerful

marketing symbol. Low-level responsible tourism directly focused upon the

conservation of the Iberian lynx and its plight, could be developed and would

be preferable to increased industrial and agricultural development.


Tourism Base• World Heritage Site,

Biosphere Reserve• Birding• Pilgrimage• Hiking• Adjacent mass tourism

Carnivore Tourism• Negligible

Tourism Infrastructure• 5 visitor centres• 10 hotels, 15 pensions,

4 campsites around park

Visitors• 350,000 annually

Tourist Revenue• Unknown

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Spain

ownership. Most famous for its bird life, Doñana is an importanthabitat for the Iberian lynx. Around 50, or 5-10 per cent, of the Spanish population live in the park. In 1951 Doñana’s last wolfwas shot, leaving the Iberian lynx as the only large carnivore in thepark. Fallow and red deer, polecat,badger, weasel, fox, genet, stonemarten, otter, wild cat, wild boarand Egyptian mongoose also livethere. Its rich bird life includes the Imperial eagle, grey heron,egret, squacco heron, spoonbill and stork, as well as huge flocks of wintering geese.

Doñana National Park issurrounded by residential,agricultural and industrial land, andthe isolation of the park as an islandof wild habitat poses the biggestthreat to the lynx. Illegal poachingand heavy road traffic are also

No accommodation is offered in the park but there are 10 hotels, 15 pensions and 4 campsites dottedaround its boundaries. The fishingvillage of Mazagon further up the coast is also a popular touristdestination, and both Marzago and Matalascanas attract sun, sea and sand tourists indicative of the Costa de la Luz.


Found only in parts of Spain andPortugal, the Iberian lynx is theworld’s most endangered cat, andDoñana National Park is one of itslast refuges. Limited researchsuggests that there are around 600remaining in 48 fragmented habitatpockets across Spain. Brown bearsand wolves inhabit parts of Spain,mainly in the north-west’s moremountainous regions rather than theflat wetlands around Doñana. Thereare thought to be around 80 brownbears in Spain, mainly in theCantabrian Mountains, in SomiedoNational Park, and as many as2,000 wolves. Other carnivoresinclude polecats, wildcats,European badgers, pine and beechmartens, otters, European andAmerican minks, stoats, weasels,foxes and Egyptian mongooses.

Doñana National Park wasestablished in 1969, and waspreviously a private hunting ground for a wealthy estate owner. It comprises a coastal stripdominated by salt marshes, lagoonsand sand dunes, and a forested areawith stone pines and marsh lakes. It is a World Heritage Site andUNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with a third of the area in private


Opportunities• Marketing of Doñana as a haven

for the Iberian lynx – “Doñana is the Iberian lynx”

• Promotion of Iberian lynxtourism through community-owned and accredited tours

• Involvement and sharedresponsibility from mainstreamtourism in the conservation of the Iberian lynx

Obstacles• Promotion of activities that

conserve and protect the Iberianlynx and habitat

• Promotion of Doñana and region as a sun, sea and sanddestination only

• Reduced interest in specialisttours in the park

• Conflicts between environmentalagencies and the tourism industry

• Doñana being “loved to death”through destructive tourismpractices

serious threats. Indirectly, thepoaching of prey species andaccidental catches and habitat loss through urbanisation outsidethe park all affect the survival of the lynx.

SU M M A R Y

Doñana National Park is of naturaland cultural significance to thepeople from this region andthroughout Spain. Conservation andprotection of the Iberian lynx istestament to the importance placedon natural and cultural traditionsand lifestyles, yet there is no direct link between tourism andconservation at this time. In fact the growing infrastructureassociated with adjacent masstourism is a major threat.

FranceFranceMERCANTO UR N AT I O N AL PARK



Mercantour National Park, north of Nice and the Côte D’Azur, was established in 1979 in themountainous Alpes-Maritimeregion. The region is very popularand receives 8.3 million tourists ayear. Of these about 700,000 visitthe park, double the 1979 number.It is estimated that one in two jobsis related to tourism in the Alpes-Maritime, with skiing the mostpopular activity in winter. TheNational Park is promoted throughthe Riviera and Côte D’AzurTourism Committee, but largecarnivores do not feature in any of their marketing material. Mostvisitors are from the Côte D’Azur orday-trippers, but about a third areinternational tourists, mainly fromBelgium, Italy and the UK. Theytend to stay in hotels in Vallée de la Roya, between Breil and Tende,or in refuges in and around thepark. The central area of the park is not accessible by car and accessto unrestricted areas is on foot withover 600 km of sign-posted paths.Cultural dimensions include abaroque chapel, rural mountainbarns and the Maginot Line forti-fications along the Italian border.

Some people involved in tourismvalue the wolf as an importanteconomic asset and local guides are offering conducted tours –“Following the tracks of the wolf.”Although these products have greattourism appeal, they have tended to be individual initiatives. A wolfcentre including a wolf enclosureand a museum has just been openedin the district of St Martin-Vésubie. It is expected to receive about100,000 visitors in its first year.

The capacity to develop largecarnivore tourism is severelyhampered by conflicts between local farmers and large carnivores.Without the support of local farmingcommunities for the long-termconservation of wolves in the park,large carnivore tourism will bedifficult to sustain.

Mercantour National Park and the

surrounding region presents one of

the most challenging opportunities

in Europe for the successful

conservation of large carnivores.

Associated responsible tourism

may, however, offer a positive

way forward.


Tourism Base• Trekking• Cultural attractions• Skiing• Mountain and outdoor

activities

Carnivore Tourism• Embryonic• Potential for sheep

flock guarding

Tourism Infrastructure• 600km of footpaths• 4 major ski resorts• New wolf centre

Visitors• 700,000 annually

Tourist Revenue• Unknown

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MERCANTOUR NAT PARK

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Mercantour National Parks, andWWF have also financed varioussheep protection systems. Theseinclude building shepherd huts forovernight stays in the mountains,penning areas using electric fencingand also flock-guarding schemesusing volunteers and livestockguard dogs. Farmers, governmentofficials and environmentalagencies meet regularly to try to find solutions to these problems.

SU M M A R Y

As the number of wolves increasesand stabilises in Mercantour, the region could emerge as adestination for large carnivoretourism. However, promotion of wolves in the area must be underpinned by carefulmanagement of local communityconcerns and mitigation ofcarnivore-livestock conflicts.

suggest that there are between 15 and 20 wolves in the Mercantourarea plus a pack which lives mainlyon the Italian side of the Alps. It is believed that this Mercantourpopulation is stable and success-fully reproducing.

In the park 17,000 people live in 28 villages. The park employsabout 56 permanent staff and 90temporary and seasonal workers.Four international ski resorts offerlocal employment, while livestockfarming is the significant economicactivity in the rural communities.

It is estimated that there are over120,000 sheep in the park. Localfarmers are increasingly attributingsheep kills to the activities ofwolves and they are viewednegatively by many farmers andlocal political leaders who areputting significant pressure on thepark authorities to remove wolvesfrom Mercantour. There is acompensation scheme which paysfarmers for loss of livestock, and theFrench Ministry of the Environment,


Of the countries featured in thisreport, France has the smallestpopulation of large carnivores. It is estimated that there are up to50 wolves in France, but researchindicates that this small populationis growing and breedingsuccessfully. The main stronghold is in the Alpes-Maritime regionwhere the Mercantour National Park is located.

Mercantour has an exceptionaldiversity of flora including olivetrees in the south and edelweiss in the north. There are alsochamois, wild sheep, ibex, wildboar, deer and royal eagles. Wolveswere thought to be extinct in theregion but were sighted again in1992. After the first snowfalls inDecember, wolf tracks can be moreeasily observed and estimates


Opportunities• An economically viable large

carnivore tourism industry• Innovative measures to mitigate

conflicts between farmers andlarge carnivores

• Support for local farmingcommunities and the promotion of rural livelihoods andtraditions

• A coordinating and inclusiveapproach to large carnivoreconservation and management

Obstacles• Continued conflict of interest

between environmentalists, ruralcommunities and large carnivoretourism

• Displacement and reduction of viable populations of largecarnivores

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The WWF CoThe WWF Code of ConductFOR RESPONS IBLE CARN I VO RE TO UR I SM

T O U R I S M I N D U S T R YChoose locations with good conservation practicesChoose destinations that promote, and legally protect,large carnivores and have continuing research andmonitoring programmes, as well as a carnivoreconservation strategy.

Support conservationAdopt the WWF Code of Conduct as company policyand create links to WWF country offices to raiseawareness of current carnivore research and issues.

Visit conservation projectsInclude large carnivore conservation projects initineraries and include conservation awareness as acomponent of tours through lectures or briefings fromresearchers and National Park staff.

Use flagship species for regional marketingUse regional flagship species in marketing material or work with National Parks and local tour operators to identify and promote an appropriate species for tours.Promote large carnivores as a symbol of a natural andhealthy environment, and as a cultural asset to Europe.

Get involved in local conservationMeet the people running large carnivore research and monitoring projects and try to link activities with conservation projects. Report sightings.

Highlight the value of National Parks and protected areasEstablish National Parks as destinations. Create links toNational Parks and promote tours around National Parkswhere large carnivore populations are protected.

Demonstrate commitment to local communitiesEstablish and promote links to local communities and remember their importance to large carnivoreconservation and tourism. Create links with localtourism associations and use local accommodation,catering, tour operators, guides, facilities and transportwherever possible to encourage local commitment to tourism and conservation. Encourage local people to develop local products that can be promoted and sold through tours.

Involve local communities in tourism associationsWork with the national tourism agency to encourage newand emerging local tourism operators to set up a tourismassociation for the area which can extend theconservation ethos and practices more broadly anddevelop a unique marketing strategy for the destination.Participate in the marketing strategy.

Highlight sustainable development guidelinesEncourage local tour operators to follow sustainabledevelopment guidelines and promote this in marketingmaterials.

Set an example to clients and brief guides on responsible tourismTrain guides to be responsible, to respect wildlife, and to be aware of the WWF Code of Conduct.

Be aware of the current debate on responsible carnivore tourismTour operators should ensure that their clients do notdisturb active wolf or carnivore den sites, nor shouldthey use unapproved bear feeding stations.

Manage expectationsDo not guarantee observations of large carnivores.Promote the experience of large carnivores through theunderstanding of their habitat, their prey, tracks, soundsand smells – elusiveness is part of their attraction.

For many tourists or tour operators travelling to, or promoting, these National Parks and regions, making the right

choice can be difficult without prior knowledge of some of the relevant issues. To help inform decision-making,

WWF has produced a Code of Conduct for large carnivore tourism which can be used by tourists and tour operators.

It outlines the types of activities, information and questions that tourists and tour operators should consider.


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ode of ConduT O U R I S T SChoose operators who are committed to large carnivore conservationChoose an operator that promotes conservation andsupports or helps fund large carnivore conservationprojects.

Be responsibleChoose an operator that has adopted the WWF Code of Conduct or is part of a carnivore tourism partnershipor accredited green labelling scheme. Be a responsibletourist and respect the environmental quality of rural areas.

Enjoy local cultural traditionsChoose tour operators and destinations that promotelocal cultures and conservation. Make contact with, andrespect, local people wherever possible: tourism is oftena recent development for many rural communities.

Purchase local goods and servicesWherever possible, purchase local produce and uselocal transport, stay in local accommodation and get to know the local people.

Use local guidesLocal guides will have good knowledge of the area andan understanding of the culture and wildlife viewingopportunities. By employing a local guide you will get more from your visit.

Eat in local restaurantsUse local restaurants and cafés to support local tourismdevelopment and the use of local produce. Eatinglocally will help you learn and understand more aboutthe local culture and customs.

Report sightingsChoose an operator that has links with large carnivoreresearchers and participates in conservation projects.

Tell your friendsWord of mouth marketing for many local tourismoperators is one of the best ways to attract more visitors.

Don’t purchase products made from protected speciesIt is illegal to purchase or trade products produced fromillegal hunting practices.

Be aware of your impact on the local community and wildlifeYour actions can have a profound effect on local people and their attitude to tourism and local wildlife.Your respect conveys an important message.

Countryside visiting codesRespect the countryside visiting code for the area inwhich you are travelling. It can be obtained through the National Parks office and website.

Do not disturb active den sitesDisturbance of active wolf dens can lead to theabandonment of the den and high pup mortality. Bears should only be observed from established hides or blinds, and only approved bear feeding stationsshould be visited.

Have realistic expectationsLarge carnivore tourism is not just about watching large carnivores which are often nervous and will avoid human contact. In addition, experience theirhabitat, the local people with whom they coexist, andtheir importance in local stories, culture and traditions.


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Europe’s CarEurope’s Carnivores


GR E Y W O L F

The grey wolf was once one of theworld’s most widely distributedmammals, found throughout theNorthern Hemisphere from theArctic almost to the Equator. Whenman was a hunter/gatherer, thisanimal was respected and reveredin mythology and religion. But oncehumans started herding, sheep andlivestock fell prey to the wolf and it became the villain.

Habitat loss, human encroachmentinto its territory and persecutiondue to the often exaggerated threattowards livestock have all takentheir toll. Today, there are onlyabout 17,000 wolves, all of whichare to be found in remote areas of Europe.

Wolves live in family-structuredpacks, and only the leading animalsbreed. Their cubs are then cared forby the rest of the pack. In contrastto the popular image of the “big badwolf,” wolves are in fact intelligentand shy – and they would ratheravoid humans than confront them.

The human perception of wolves as a threat needs to be addressed or the result could be the loss of all wolves in Europe.

The status of the Iberian lynx, found only in pockets of Spain and Portugal, is a matter of graveconservation concern. It is nowrecognised as the world’s mostendangered cat species with its tinypopulation facing a real threat ofextinction. Other species, such aswolves, are beginning to expandtheir ranges, but unless publicacceptance of their presence isquickly secured, conflict withpeople will inevitably result incarnivores being the certain losers.

The political developments inEurope, particularly within theEuropean Union, with the partialdisintegration of national bordersand more unified legal and planning requirements, are creatingnew and promising opportunities for managing large carnivorepopulations.

In 1995, in recognition of the manycomplex challenges surrounding the conservation of carnivores,WWF and partner organisations in 17 European countriesestablished a Large Carnivore

Initiative for Europe (LCIE). Focusing on five species – theEuropean brown bear, Iberian lynx,Eurasian lynx, wolverine and thewolf – the LCIE’s mission is to“maintain and restore, incoexistence with people, viablepopulations of large carnivores asan integral part of ecosystems andlandscapes across Europe.” A Large Carnivore Group has alsobeen established and includesrepresentatives from governments,national and internationalconservation organisations andleading scientists and other experts.

The LCIE is working on four main levels:

• protecting large carnivores and their habitats;

• integrating large carnivores with local developments;

• supporting large carnivoresthrough legislation, policies and economic instruments;

• gaining public acceptance for the existence of large carnivores.

While the precarious status of Asia’s tigers is widely known,

some of Europe’s own top predators are in danger of quietly

disappearing. Others face an upsurge in conflict with people

as they attempt to reclaim parts of their former ranges.

E S T I M AT E S O F C A R N I V O R E P O P U L AT I O N S

Bears Wolves Eurasian Iberianlynx lynx

Romania 6,600 2,500 1,500 –Poland 100 600-700 185 –Italy 43-84 400-500 12 –Spain 51-87 2,000 – 525-660France 3-9 50 – –

S O U R C E : L C I E


IB E R I A N LY N X

The Iberian lynx is now the mostthreatened cat species in the world,with fewer than 800 animals left inisolated pockets in Spain andPortugal. These cats are much smaller and more heavily spotted than theEurasian lynx, which is a differentspecies.

Rapid economic development in Spain has devastated the naturalenvironment, with large areasreplaced by roads and agriculture.Hunting for the Iberian lynx’s fur hasalso added to its plight. One of themain elements of its diet is rabbit –and this is an additional factor in itsdemise because the number of rabbitshas severely decreased as a result ofmyxomatosis and, more recently,Rabbit Viral Disease.

rnivoresBR O W N B E A R

The brown bear is an honorarycarnivore because it is actually anomnivore – it will eat almostanything. The bear’s range is nowgreatly reduced and there are onlysmall and fragmented populations in western Europe – in the Pyrenees,the Cantabrian Mountains, theTrentino Alps and the Appenines in Italy. Only in northern Scandinaviaand Russia is it found over a wide and continuous area.

Bears generally hibernate in lateautumn for between three and sevenmonths in dens dug in the ground orunder rocks. They are active duringday and night, although humanpersecution has led to nocturnalbehaviour in some areas. They have huge home ranges, living indeciduous and coniferous forests as well as steppes and tundra.

EU R A S I A N LY N X

There are only about 8,000 of thesesecretive animals left in Europe. The Eurasian lynx used to live in the wooded mountainous regions ofcentral and northern Europe until the end of the 19th century. But thecauses of this animal’s near-extinctionare familiar: being hunted for its furand the destruction of its habitat, as well as a decrease in the deerpopulation which is the lynx’s mainprey. A nocturnal animal, it is saidyou can live your life in lynx countryyet never set eyes on one.

Because of its typical cat behaviour,the lynx has a reputation for being amerciless killer, but there is not evenanecdotal evidence that it has everattacked humans. The lynx rarelyattacks sheep, preferring rabbits, roedeer and birds. Its large paws havefur between the pads to act assnowshoes during the winter.

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ContactsContacts


C O N TA C T S

WWF-UKDr Paul ToyneCarnivore Campaign LeaderTelephone: +44 (0)1483 412 564E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.wwf-uk.org

Justin WoolfordTourism Policy OfficerTelephone: +44 (0)1483 412 508E-mail: [email protected]

LA R G E CA R N I V O R E

IN I T I AT I V E I N EU R O P E

Callum RankineLCIE Co-ordinatorTelephone: +44 (0)1252 795 860E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.large-carnivores-lcie.org

William PratesiLCIE Co-ordinatorTelephone: +44 (0)1888 551 228E-mail: [email protected]

AB R U Z Z O NAT I O N A L PA R K

Isabella PratesiWWF-ItalyTelephone: +39 06 84 49 71

BI A L O W I E Z A NAT I O N A L PA R K

Dr Henryk OkarmaPolish Academy of SciencesTelephone: +48 124 21 51 44 (x209)E-mail: [email protected]

Joep van de VlasakkerFlaxfield Nature ConsultancyTelephone: +31 343 45 63 54E-mail: [email protected]

CA R PAT H I A N LA R G E

CA R N I V O R E PR O J E C T,RO M A N I A

Christoph PrombergerCarpathian Large Carnivore ProjectTelephone: +40 68 41 37 72E-mail: [email protected]

DO Ñ A N A NAT I O N A L PA R K

Luis SuarezWWF-SpainTelephone: +34 91 308 23 09/10E-mail: [email protected]

Guido SchmidtWWF Doñana RepresentativeTelephone: +34 67 060 18 93E-mail: [email protected]

ME R C A N T O U R NAT I O N A L PA R K

Dr Benoit LequetteHead of Scientific ServiceMercantour National ParkTelephone: +33 493 16 78 88E-mail: [email protected]

Arnaud GrethHead of Conservation WWF-FranceTelephone: +33 1 55 25 84 84E-mail: [email protected]


F U R T H E R I N F O R M AT I O N

Beyond the Green Horizon WWF-UK/Tourism Concern 1992Principles and case studies ofsustainable tourism

Sustainable Tourism, Moving from Theory to Practice WWF-UK/Tourism Concern 1996Survey of tourism actors on how to put sustainable tourism into practice

Responsible Tourism in the MediterraneanWWF Mediterranean Programme 1998Guidelines for tourists, touroperators and local authorities on responsible tourism in theMediterranean

Changing the Nature of Tourism DFID 1999Suggestions on how tourism cansupport the conservation of nature

WWF conserves wildlife and thenatural environment for presentand future generations.

WWF-UK, Panda House

Weyside Park, Catteshall Lane

Godalming, Surrey GU7 1XR

United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0)1483 426444

Website: www.wwf-uk.org

Registered Charity No 201707Panda symbol © WWF 1986 ® WWFPrinted on recycled paper made from 100 per cent post consumer waste 1223/May 2000

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