Introduction.

The reasons behind and significance of the book. Problematic Wildlife and modern world.

This starting chapter, fully introduces the topic of the book. The reasons for publishing this second volume on 'Problematic Wildlife' are explained. The fundamental reason is that although it will be difficult to deal with all the existing themes that can be part of the topic of problematic wildlife, we will try to analyze cases not previously covered in the first book. Some specific topics, for ex. the big cats man-eaters, have only been treated in great synthesis in the first volume, where, on the contrary, the theme of the attacks of wolves to humans has been deepened. Then, another example, the one related to the urban fauna, positive and compatible situations with human activities, or, on the contrary, very problematic cases, which need solutions. Or the big problem of wildlife and problems related to road traffic. And so on, some chapters deal with snakes, always causing problems to be addressed, or the problem of coexistence between hunting and nature conservation.

Section 1: Large carnivores, humans and environment.

Man eaters: for a human-wildlife coexistence. A review.

(S.M. Shepherd; University of Pennsylvania Healthcare System, USA)

A large carnivore among people and livestock: the common leopard.

Mitigation of conflicts between humans and large carnivores is a major challenge in wildlife conservation. Habitat loss and depletion of wild prey, as well as easy availability of livestock, are expected to increase livestock depredation and, in turn, emphasise conflicts.

We assessed the interactions between leopards Panthera pardus and humans, in three study areas lying on a densely inhabited Himalayan part of Pakistan (c. 328 km2): a protected, largely forested area (Ayubia National Park and its surroundings, ANP) and two areas with a greater level of anthropogenic activities and lower extent of forest cover (Murree, MF; Transitional Area, TA).

We suggest that only the implementation of synergistic actions, i.e. habitat protection, prey restoration and better practices of livestock management, would lead to mitigate human-leopard conflict and to increase the long-term survival of this large predator.

Evolution of wolf habitat occupancy and feeding habits in Italy: implications for species conservation and conflict resolution with humans.

Despite the generally positive trend of European populations, the wolf is still today a challenging species to conserve, particularly in the most anthropogenic southern European countries, because of its conflict with humans. In this chapter we summarize the dynamics of wolf distribution in Italy, one of the most densely populated European countries, over the last 50 years. Finally, we consider how to mitigate the wolf-human conflict and suggest effective management of wolf populations.

Section 2: Urban environment and wildlife.

"Good" and "bad" urban wildlife.

(G. Perry, C. Boal, R. Verble, M. Wallace; Texas Tech, USA)

Urban environments offer habitat for many species of animals. Although some of those are ubiquitous and/or undesirable, others are native and in some cases, of conservation value. In many cases, urban wildlife populations are a source of enjoyment for human residents, who sometimes invest considerable amounts in attracting them to yards and public space
About the Author:

Francesco Maria Angelici, PhD, currently works in the areas of biology, behavioral ecology, fauna, zoogeography, and mammal systematic and conservation studies, particularly concerning carnivores, lagomorphs and ungulates. His other fields of research are: ornithology (the biology and ecology of Falconiformes, Passeriformes and Strigiformes) and herpetology (the ecology of snakes and their trophic relationship with mammals). He studies Italian and tropical fauna, with particular reference to the conservation of vertebrates. He also works in the areas of planning and environmental conservation. In particular, he has worked in the area of wildlife management at national parks, reserves and other protected areas in Italy and abroad. He currently works as a zoologist conservationist, with hunting management agencies. He is also a specialist in African savannah environments as well as desert and tropical rain forests. He is currently the scientific head of an international project dedicated to the conservation of the lion (Panthera leo) in Ghana. He has published about 220 scientific papers in journals with international committees of reference, in addition to some scientific and popular articles. He has also written several chapters in monographs and books in Italy and abroad, in addition to being the editor of various Italian books. He co-authored the "Checklist of fauna species in Italy, Vertebrates" in the Mammals section, and authored several species sections in the new edition of Fauna d'Italia (Texbook of Italian Mammals), some species sections in Handbuch der Säugetiere Europas (Monograph on the Mammals of Europe), and some species sections in Mammals of Africa (Bloomsbury Publishing). He contributes as a referent to 23 international journals, and he is associate editor of two international journals. He was a lecturer in courses in zoology (Vertebrate Zoology, Wildlife Management, Animal Ecology, and Zoogeography) at Sapienza University of Rome from 1990 to 1996, and at the University of Tuscia, Viterbo from 2007 to 2009. He is a member of seventeen scientific and/or conservation societies in both Italy and abroad, including the IUCN.

Lorenzo Rossi is a science communicator who deals with the history of zoology, ethnozoology and the relationship between science and pseudoscience. For this topics he is the author of exhibits, conferences, books and scientific publications. His most recent works concern the relationship between folklore and the discovery of new species of primates and the morphometric and genetic study of the island population of wolves that became extinct in Sicily (Italy) at the beginning of 1900. He currently deals with public relations for the Museo dell'Ecologia di Cesena (Italy) and the organisation of events related to citizen science projects.