Values and attitudes towards a free-ranging megaherbivore, the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in Hong Kong: implications for wildlife conservation

Anthropogenic land-use has transformed habitats globally, creating human-wildlife co-habitations that pose both challenges and opportunities for coexistence. Values and attitudes of humans are central to understanding current patterns of coexistence in these environments, as well as for informing future conservation plans. We designed and disseminated a questionnaire using the framework of Wildlife Attitudes and Values (WAVS) and Wildlife Value Orientation (WVO) to investigate perception of feral water buffalo in Hong Kong and perspectives on the contributions of buffalo to local biodiversity conservation. We conducted a principal component analysis (PCA) using the responses (n=472). Three key dimensions were evident: wildlife appreciation, social benefits, and tolerance, which accounted for 67.63% of the data variance. We conducted logistic regression analyses for the three dimensions to investigate their association with demographic parameters. We found associations with self-reported gender, district of residence, education level and place of birth with the three dimensions. Studying public attitudes and values, such as appreciation for feral buffalo in Hong Kong, reveals factors that are relevant to stakeholders, these includes taking into account social and cultural factors, alongside demographics. Integrating societal perspectives, such as those highlighted in our study, into strategies related to human-animal interactions is key for conservation success.