The document discusses how humans and other carnivorous species can coexist on Earth. It summarizes a recent study that looked at how factors like human behaviors and development can be changed to reduce aggression when humans and animals encounter each other. The study found that both humans and animals have an inherent ability to adapt to each other and that focusing on reducing conflict, rather than eliminating it, is the best approach for conservation.

1. Sharing Space, Realistically
by Derrick Alger

2. The world is filled with millions
of different creatures, many of
them carnivorous. Humans, of
course, occupy a large amount of
space on Earth.

3. However, we are not the only
carnivores in existence.

4. Conservation of wildlife is a chief
concern in the world and, in
order to conserve the lives of
other carnivorous species,
humans must learn how to
effectively and safely coexist in
the same space as other
carnivores.

5. Unfortunately, many larger
carnivorous species cannot be
contained to a preservation area,
and are therefore put into
dangerous situations when they
encounter humans.

6. A recently published study takes
a look at how humans and other
carnivores can peacefully occupy
the same space.

7. The study was done in several different
countries, with several different
species, such as wolves and bears. The
researchers were attempting to
discover what factors could be changed
to make humans and animals both
respond less aggressively when
encountering the other.

8. Both would have to adapt. The
researchers found that there is an
inherent capability of each species to
adapt to inhabitants of the other. For
example, animal carnivores are able to
adapt to living in landscapes that have
been altered by humans.

9. Likewise, humans have shown they
have the capability of getting used to
sharing land with carnivores, whether
it means changing the way they look
after livestock, or altering cultural
practices to make room for other
animals.

10. These adaptations, however, are
nonexistent in several parts of the
world. People living in areas more
populated by humans, such as cities,
never have to interact with
carnivorous wildlife.

11. This results in undesirable
interactions between said wildlife and
humans if and when they ever do
interact. The initial reaction of
humans to such conflict is to eliminate
it altogether.

12. We build cities in which carnivorous
wildlife only exist in zoos. We ensure
that we never encounter animals like
wolves and bears in our daily lives.

13. Researchers on this projects have
found that this is one of the worst
possible approaches. Unfortunately,
when risk is decreased by humans, so
are the populations of several different
species.

14. Instead, this study suggests that we
should focus on how to reduce conflict
rather than eliminate it altogether. We
therefore have to discover what
exactly breeds conflict between
humans and wild animals and work on
reducing the factors to the best of our
ability.

15. Instead, this study suggests that we
should focus on how to reduce conflict
rather than eliminate it altogether. We
therefore have to discover what
exactly breeds conflict between
humans and wild animals and work on
reducing the factors to the best of our
ability.