Final answer:
The present day attitude towards wildlife is characterized by a mix of conservation and economic interests, with significant public support for wildlife protection alongside concerns about conflicts with human activities. International agreements and legislation play key roles in regulating trade and protecting species. Public sentiment is increasingly in favor of ethical treatment of wildlife, yet conflicts and challenges remain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The attitude towards wildlife today is complex and multifaceted, reflecting a mix of conservation efforts and economic considerations. While there is increased public support for wildlife conservation and ethical treatment of animals, there are also ongoing conflicts regarding the management of carnivores, particularly in areas where they pose a threat to livestock or human safety. For example, extreme measures such as aerial gunning and poisoning of wolves have met with strong public opposition, but some groups such as livestock ranchers and hunters advocate for these measures to protect their interests.
Conservation efforts are influenced by public opinion, international trade agreements, and economic incentives. Bans on legal wildlife trade, while intended to protect species, can sometimes result in unintended consequences, such as increased value for land used in other ways, like cattle rearing. Conversely, illegal wildlife commerce rarely leads to the recovery of wild populations, with few success stories that balance penalizing bad behavior with incentivizing good practices.
Measures such as implementing no-take areas, like wildlife sanctuaries and marine protected areas, are being explored as more realistic approaches to managing wildlife. Global trends toward biotic homogenisation are a concern, and international tools like CITES aim to regulate and ensure sustainable trade of wildlife species. Furthermore, laws like the Lacey Act in the USA and similar legislation in other countries are crucial in the fight against the over-exploitation of wildlife and the negative impacts of invasive species.
Public sentiment towards animals has evolved over time. In the past, Western societies often viewed animals merely as commodities, whereas many Indigenous societies recognized them as part of their community. Despite conservation successes, tensions still persist between different stakeholder groups regarding wildlife management, such as the ongoing debates surrounding the reintroduction of wolves. Additionally, the growth of ecotourism brings its own challenges, requiring careful management to prevent damage to wildlife habitats by the very tourism that seeks to appreciate them.