Throughout its range in Latin America, the jaguarPanthera oncais threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation, and by conflict as a result of coexistence with people. This Near Threatened species is a top predator, and is often illegally hunted. Understanding people's attitudes and perceptions and the factors that could influence them is crucial for the conservation of this species. In this study we assess how knowledge, attitudes and perceptions among people in northern Argentina regarding jaguars vary depending on their level of education, age and occupation. We interviewed 810 people living in and around 10 protected areas in northern Argentina. Positive perceptions and attitudes towards the jaguar were associated with economic benefits that people may receive from the species’ presence, such as income from tourism. Unexpectedly, higher levels of formal education were not associated with more positive attitudes and perceptions. Negative attitudes and perceptions towards the species were determined by fear; people see jaguars as a threat to their lives. This study shows that the socio-economic factors that affect the level of tolerance towards jaguars are not related only to economic losses. Our findings provide information for the design, implementation and evaluation of jaguar conservation projects in Argentina.

中文翻译：

---

人和美洲虎：对社会因素在旧冲突中的作用的新见解

美洲虎在拉丁美洲的整个范围内美洲豹受到栖息地丧失和破碎化以及与人类共存导致的冲突的威胁。这种近危物种是顶级捕食者，经常被非法猎杀。了解人们的态度和看法以及可能影响他们的因素对于保护该物种至关重要。在这项研究中，我们评估了阿根廷北部人们对美洲虎的知识、态度和看法如何根据他们的教育水平、年龄和职业而变化。我们采访了居住在阿根廷北部 10 个保护区及其附近的 810 人。对美洲虎的积极看法和态度与人们可能从该物种的存在中获得的经济利益有关，例如旅游收入。不料，更高水平的正规教育与更积极的态度和看法无关。对物种的负面态度和看法是由恐惧决定的；人们将美洲虎视为对他们生命的威胁。这项研究表明，影响对美洲虎的容忍程度的社会经济因素不仅仅与经济损失有关。我们的研究结果为阿根廷美洲虎保护项目的设计、实施和评估提供了信息。