Human super-predators not always ‘super-scary’ to wildlife, finds study

Study reveals that human interactions affect wildlife behavior differently, with lethal humans causing heightened vigilance compared to non-lethal ones.

Humans have climbed to the top of the food chain by skillfully hunting, trapping, and fishing for other animals at scales that far exceed other predators, altering how the animals behave and earning the tag of a “super-predator”. But a new study led by the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), suggests that there is a bit more nuance to this idea.

While animals clearly respond with fear to humans who hunt or kill, they are far less consistent in how they react to non-lethal human presence.

A comprehensive meta-analysis, published in Ecology Letters, analyses three decades of research on how wild animals change their behaviour in response to different types of human interactions. The study examined behavioural shifts in foraging, vigilance, and movement across species and ecosystems to look into whether humans are always super-scary.

“The short answer is: no, not always,” says Shawn D’Souza, PhD student at CES and the study’s lead author. “We found strong evidence that lethal humans such as hunters and fishers are indeed perceived as threatening. Animals in areas exposed to lethal humans tend to be more vigilant and spend less time foraging. In contrast, responses to non-lethal humans, such as tourists or researchers are weaker and more variable.”

An IISc release said passive human structures like roads and settlements sometimes reduced animal vigilance. “In certain cases, these areas can function as perceived refuges,” D’Souza explained. “Predators often avoid humans, which can make areas near people feel safer for some prey species.”

Another reason is that areas adjacent to roads are often cleared of thick vegetation, making them attractive grazing sites for smaller animals, said co-author Maria Thaker, Professor at CES. But these sites still pose the risk of vehicular collisions.