Integrating socio-ecological information to address human–top predator conflicts: the case of an endangered eagle in the eastern Andes of Colombia

Abstract

Fragmentation of the world's most intact forest landscapes will likely increase the severity of Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC). The way these threats affect top predators involves a series of complex social and ecological relationships, which are not completely understood, and thus require socio-ecological studies. The aim of this study is to examine the socio-ecological factors that affect the tolerance of local people towards the endangered Black-and-chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori) in rural villages of the eastern Andes of Colombia. We conducted 172 interviews in 20 rural villages and estimated the proportion of forest cover (i.e. amount of remaining native forest), human density, the yearly losses of domestic fowl by the Black-and-chestnut Eagle, and socio-demographic parameters (i.e. economic activity, domestic fowl ownership, age, education, gender). The likelihood of villagers being tolerant towards the Black-and-chestnut Eagle decreased when the forest cover, human density and yearly losses of domestic fowl were higher. The integration of socio-ecological information allowed us to identify key areas with increasing HWC. Our findings were in consonance with the most recent evidence indicating that declines of top predator populations, as well as other vertebrate biodiversity, can be severely affected by the exacerbation of HWC on the border of intact native habitat and deforested areas.