Wildlife tourism, science and scientists: what are the barriers and opportunities

Wildlife tourism, the viewing of wildlife in their natural environment, is a growing sector of tourism world wide. The presence of diverse and unusual wildlife is a major influence on visitors choosing Australia as a destination. Little is currently known about the short and long term impacts on the wildlife on which such tourism depends. This has resulted in management agencies making decisions on the suitability of human-wildlife interactions based on insufficient data. Given the diversity of possible impacts and possible responses, plus concerns surrounding sustainability, it is essential that good empirical scientific research is available to inform management. This paper draws on scientists’ and managers’ perceptions of science and wildlife tourism to barriers hindering scientists from engaging in wildlife tourism science. It explores the scientific paradigms and power relationships which influence scientists and managers and potentially hinder the development of research into humanwildlife interactions.