Large carnivore movement amidst human-derived resources: risks, rewards, and societal implications for coexistence.

This project evaluates how large carnivores alter their movement to balance the risks and rewards associated with resources derived from human activities (livestock rearing and wildlife hunting).

Risk-induced modifications in large carnivore movement may impact wildlife management and conservation, and their function as predators.

Developed in three work packages set in diverse ecological and management systems (Asia, North America, Europe), the project quantifies different levels of variation in the spatial behavior of three large carnivores (snow leopard, wolf, brown bear) with diverse life strategies.

Results will have local and global implications for wildlife-conflict management, facilitate learning from different global contexts, and promote sustainable coexistence with large carnivores, directly addressing two FORMAS focus areas and three UN’s SDG.I will bring together high profile projects in a novel collaborative effort, working with leading institutions in the applied ecology field and collaborating with movement ecology experts.

Throughout the project, I will share research progress and findings targeted to different audiences (stakeholders, scientific community, general public).

This project provides a clear next step in my scientific career as I will be able to expand my experience in large carnivore ecology, put my research into highly relevant management frameworks, further develop my analytical skillset, increase my independence and broaden my network.