Results for ANTHRO152

Over the centuries, the progressing urbanization has led to humans' gradual displacement from nature, especially from the parts conventionally considered unpredictable and dangerous - such as wildlife. When the distance between wildlife habitats and human development shrinks, their contradictory needs collide, and conflict becomes inevitable. This course explores how human-wildlife conflicts (HWC) have shaped human-animal relationships in the past and present, and how ongoing climate change exacerbates them. In this class, we will investigate the underlying social, cultural, and ecological differences fueling disagreements between stakeholder groups entangled with wildlife in their daily routines. The course reviews the literature on the most common types of HWC through global case studies, first in the past and then in modern times. The discussed conflicts include the introduction of invasive species, wildlife diseases, habitat loss, species extinction, predatory species' adaptations to human-dominated landscapes, ecotourism development, the impact of human conflicts on wildlife populations, and others. Interactions with animals encompass many aspects of human lives and a myriad of academic disciplines, and this class emphasizes that social factors cannot be ignored in attempts to solve HWC. This class intersects anthropology, animal studies, political ecology, wildlife management, and archaeology. It will combine lectures, reading discussions, guest lectures, and interactive exercises. The course can be taken for 3, 4, or 5 units.