Bringing Science to Wildlife Tourism: The Inuence of Managers’ and Scientists’ Perceptions

Wildlife tourism is one of the fastest growing tourism sectors worldwide. Little is known, however, about its impacts on the wildlife on which it depends. This paper explores, as a Žrst step in addressing this shortcoming, the perceptions held by tour operators, managers and wildlife scientists regarding the role and purpose of scientiŽc research in sustainable wildlife tourism. The study drew on four case studies fromWestern Australia – two managed attractions and their managers and two wildlife tours and their operators – plus interviews with wildlife scientists. Key Žndings included a focus by scientists on the conservation biology of threatened species and the ‘scientiŽc method’. The inuences of the ‘scientiŽc community’ and ‘being a scientist’ on scientists were also apparent. Managers and operators, on the other hand, focused on the urgency of scientiŽc knowledge for addressing potential impacts. A major challenge to progressing the scientiŽc attention given to the impacts of tourists on wildlife is closing the perceptual gap between scientists and managers regarding the role and purpose of scientiŽc research in this rapidly growing, dynamic and yet potentially sustainable industry.