Cimpoca Alina-Lucia, Voiculescu Mircea, Creţan Remus, Voiculescu Sorina, Ianăş Ana-Neli
Department of Geography, West University of Timişoara, Bdul Vasile Pârvan, 4, 300223 Timişoara, Romania.
Animals (Basel). 2024 Feb 10;14(4):587. doi: 10.3390/ani14040587.
Our research focuses on a complex and integrative analysis of bear presence in four tourist resorts in Prahova Valley, Romania: Sinaia, Bușteni, Azuga and Predeal. Employing innovative mixed methods, including questionnaires, interviews, newspaper analysis, and consideration of the local toponymy, including bear-related names and souvenirs, we aim to highlight the extent to which a posthumanist attitude is evident in the region. The sustained appearance of bears is attributed to habitat invasion through deforestation, road construction, residential neighborhoods, and tourist infrastructure. Ambiguity arises from the presence of food sources and voluntary feeding both by locals and tourists. The mass media initially heightened fear and panic during the onset of human-bear interactions but later adopted a more tolerant tone regarding the bear's presence in tourist resorts, reflecting an openness to the posthumanist approach in Prahova Valley. That is why locals express fear and concern about bear encounters, advocating for a clear separation between animal and human spaces. Tourists exhibit attitudes ranging from unconscious appreciation to ambivalence, often contributing to the problem through practices such as feeding bears for fun. The use of bear-related names for tourist establishments is identified as anthropocentric, despite their appeal for attracting tourists. Souvenir sales, through increasing socio-economic value and contributing to tourist experiences, are also recognized as anthropocentric. However, souvenirs can provide elements of support for bear conservation efforts and the equal consideration of human and non-human entities. This study concludes that a successful adaptive coexistence requires a posthumanist vision, overcoming anthropocentrism in a landscape altered by human activities, supported by bear management programs in Bucegi Natural Park, and conservation efforts in Prahova Valley in a landscape altered by people.
我们的研究聚焦于对罗马尼亚普拉霍瓦山谷四个旅游胜地(锡纳亚、布斯泰尼、阿祖加和普雷代亚尔)中熊的存在进行复杂的综合分析。我们采用创新的混合方法,包括问卷调查、访谈、报纸分析以及考虑当地地名,包括与熊相关的名字和纪念品,旨在突出后人类主义态度在该地区的明显程度。熊的持续出现归因于森林砍伐、道路建设、居民区和旅游基础设施导致的栖息地入侵。食物来源的存在以及当地人和游客的自愿投喂引发了模糊性。大众媒体在人与熊互动开始时最初加剧了恐惧和恐慌,但后来对熊在旅游胜地的存在采取了更宽容的态度,反映出对普拉霍瓦山谷后人类主义方法的开放态度。这就是为什么当地人对与熊相遇表示恐惧和担忧,主张明确划分动物和人类空间。游客表现出从无意识欣赏到矛盾的态度,常常通过诸如出于好玩投喂熊等行为加剧问题。尽管旅游设施使用与熊相关的名字对吸引游客有吸引力,但被认为是以人类为中心的。纪念品销售通过增加社会经济价值并丰富旅游体验,也被视为以人类为中心。然而,纪念品可以为熊的保护努力以及对人类和非人类实体的平等考虑提供支持元素。本研究得出结论,成功的适应性共存需要后人类主义愿景,在由人类活动改变的景观中克服人类中心主义,这得到了布切吉自然公园的熊管理计划以及普拉霍瓦山谷在由人类改变的景观中的保护努力的支持。