Attitudes toward and Knowledge about Wolves in SW German Secondary School Pupils from within and outside an Area Occupied by Wolves (Canis lupus)

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The wolf (Canis lupus) was extinct from large parts of Europe, but during the last decades, wolves re-entered their previous distribution area in Germany. The federal state of Baden-Württemberg has delineated a wolf area where some individuals are roaming around. We compared secondary school students from within and outside the wolf area, and analysed gender, age, and residency effects on attitude and knowledge. A total of 254 students from secondary schools participated in this study with a mean age of 12.63 ± 2.17. We asked for basic attitudes toward wolves and for knowledge about wolves. In detail, age was related to the subscale interest to learn, with lower interest scores related to an increasing age. Girls reported a higher level of fear of wolves, and, concerning residency, conservation attitudes were lower within the wolf area compared to outside. Boys had a higher level of knowledge than girls. A higher level of knowledge was related to a greater conservation attitude, a greater interest to learn, a lower level of fear/harm, and a lower acceptance of hunting. ABSTRACT: Wolves (Canis lupus) were exterminated from most areas of western Europe during the last two centuries, but, during the last decades, wolves re-entered their previous distribution area in Germany. We compared secondary school students from within and outside a delineated wolf area, and analysed gender, age, and residency. A total of 254 students participated in this study (age: M = 12.63 ± 2.17). We used a measurement introduced which consisted of three parts, demographics, attitudes and knowledge. There was a significant overall effect of age, gender, and residency in attitudes toward wolves. More specifically, age was related to the subscale interest to learn, with lower interest scores related to an increasing age. Girls reported a higher level of fear. Conservation was lower within the wolf area than outside. Boys had a higher level of knowledge than girls. A higher level of knowledge was related to greater conservation, a greater interest to learn, a lower level of fear, and a lower acceptance of hunting. Hence, in order to improve students’ conservation attitudes, it would be useful to foster learning about wolves at school. Special attention should be paid to ensuring that girls also internalize the content of these lessons.