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[CULTURE] · Switzerland · 2 sources

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Swiss public attitudes toward wolves remain polarized

Switzerland wolf population University of Zurich KORA foundation public opinion

A study conducted by the University of Zurich and the KORA foundation indicates that public opinion in Switzerland regarding wolves has remained stable and polarized between 2015 and 2023, despite an increase in the wolf population. While the number of wolf packs in the country grew from one in 2012 to approximately thirty by 2023, the percentage of people clearly opposed to the predator decreased from 37.5% in 2015 to 31.8% in 2023.

The research, published in the journal Biological Conservation, highlights significant regional divides. Residents in urban areas and the Plateau tend to be more favorable toward wolves compared to those in rural and mountainous regions. Researchers suggest these attitudes are driven more by regional sociocultural history than by the actual presence of wolves or livestock attacks. Additionally, the study found that individual attitudes are heavily influenced by the social environment, as people living in close proximity tend to share similar views.

Entities

KORA foundation · Switzerland · University of Zurich

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

  • [● 2 SOURCES] Opinions on wolves are marked by regional divides between urban/Plateau areas and rural/mountainous areas. www.lfm.ch · latele.ch
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Public attitudes toward wolves in Switzerland remained stable between 2015 and 2023. www.lfm.ch · latele.ch
  • [○ 1 SOURCE] Individual attitudes are strongly influenced by the opinions present in the social environment. latele.ch
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Switzerland had one wolf pack in 2012 and approximately thirty in 2023. www.lfm.ch · latele.ch
  • [● 2 SOURCES] The study was published in the scientific journal Biological Conservation. www.lfm.ch · latele.ch
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately two thirds of respondents chose a polarized position (for or against) regarding wolves. www.lfm.ch · latele.ch
  • [● 2 SOURCES] Attitudes are influenced more by regional sociocultural history than by the actual presence of wolves. www.lfm.ch · latele.ch
  • [● 2 SOURCES] The percentage of people clearly opposed to wolves fell from 37.5% in 2015 to 31.8% in 2023. www.lfm.ch · latele.ch

Sources

Forte hausse du nombre de nuitées hôtelières en septembre [www.lfm.ch]
Les Suisses restent polarisés sur le loup, selon une étude [latele.ch]