Public attitudes to urban wild deer (Cervus nippon) and management policies: A case study of Kyoto City, Japan

The expansion of urban areas has resulted in the fragmentation and reduction of natural habitats. This leads to a fundamental reconfiguration of interactions between humans and wildlife, with profound ecological, social, and policy implications. However there is a research gap in understanding public perceptions of urban wildlife and their management. This study pursues three objectives: (1) to explore the primary types of conflicts between the public and urban wildlife, focusing on Sika deer (Cervus nippon) as an example; (2) to examine public attitudes towards urban deer; and (3) to investigate differences in public acceptance of hunting and fencing management policies. A questionnaire survey was conducted in the urban area of Kyoto City, Japan in September 2022 (n = 759). The survey addressed issues related to deer behavior in the city, public perceptions of urban deer, and feedback on management policies We employed statistical descriptive analysis to study the main ways in which people interact with urban deer. Subsequently, we examined the urban deer image from the public perspective and public perceptions of urban deer. Additionally, mining analysis was conducted on open-ended responses, and public demands were explored in conjunction with feedback on current management schemes in Kyoto City The results indicate that the main type of human-urban deer conflict has an impact on damaging urban vegetation. Public attitudes towards urban deer and other wildlife (besides deer) show significant differences but tend towards negative attitudes. We found a positive inclination towards the efficacy of fencing as a viable solution concurrently revealing a low-approving sentiment regarding hunting policies. These findings bear implications for the development and enhancement of sustainable management strategies aimed at mitigating the complex challenges posed by the swift urbanisation and evolution of urban ecosystems.