FIZJOLOGICZNE REAKCJE ZWIERZĄT NA PENETRACJĘ TURYSTYCZNĄ ZAJMOWANEJ PRZEZ NIE PRZESTRZENI

Abstrakt

In many studies on tourism in the environmentally valuable areas the advantages for both human health and the budgets of local governments and its residents themselves are emphasized, as well as for increasing knowledge and awareness of tourists through personal contact with nature. However, while we admire the colorful folders, describing the charms of experiencing the nature and plan a similar trip, we should remember that our vacation, especially when spend in environmentally valuable areas require some kind of responsibility and discipline and can not be completely carefree. Since the beginning of the 90s the growth of various forms of tourism is observed in Poland, both: mass and individual. People are increasingly looking for personal contact with nature, to rest from a daily activities, to regenerate and regain health, to acquire knowledge but also to fi nd a unique and sometimes strong experiences to boast with them in front of friends. For a human those things are undoubtedly something positive, but the presence of a human in a space inhabited by wild animals may cause negative reactions, because a man is a potent inducer of stress for the animals. We know about the destructive effects of stress on human health from the daily press or from TV, and it seems that it may have just the same effect on life of animals. Current research techniques allow us to study stress levels in the bodies of wild animals by non-invasively, by analyzing the concentration of glucocorticoids (ie. Stress hormone) in their feces. This method was used for both research on non-predatory influence of predators on the prey and the impact of human on the wild animals. Studies have confi rmed that human is a strong stress factor for animals (stressor), which the animals are trying to avoid if possible. It was also stated that he higher levels of stress hormones in animals in places and time related with greater touristic penetration. The negative impact of long-lasting stressor is the greater when rarer species are treated exposed on it. That is why the organization and planning of tourism in environmentally valuable areas should also consider its impact on local animals populations.