Horseback opinions: what do visitors see when they see the wild horses that concern conservation biologists?

Abstract

Social conflicts surrounding invasive alien species can hinder their management, which makes studying the human dimension increasingly important. This approach is particularly relevant in natural reserves, where assessing visitors' perceptions of invasive alien species can help guide the design of more effective outreach and engagement strategies. This study examines visitors' knowledge of feral horses, their perceptions of these animals' value and ecological impact, and their acceptance of different management alternatives in a protected grassland area in the Argentine Pampas. We expect that public perceptions of feral horses and acceptance of the proposed actions will be closely related, and that both will be influenced by knowledge, prior access to information, and demographic factors. We designed a questionnaire to evaluate visitors' knowledge and perceptions about the feral horses in the area, as well as their acceptance of various management options. Our results indicate that many park visitors are unaware of the feral horse issue, often emphasize the cultural significance of these animals, and generally do not recognize them as non-native. However, there is awareness of their ecological impacts on grasslands and broad acceptance of the need to manage the population. Visitorś knowledge and information received from park staff or guides increase support for management, underscoring the importance of providing effective information before and during visits. These findings highlight the need of targeted communication and education strategies to foster broader public support for invasive alien species management.