How Changes in Elephant-Handling Practices Shape Human Perceptions of Their Wild Conspecifics

Opportunities for direct experience with wildlife shape human perceptions and behaviors, influencing human-environment relationships. These perceptions vary across communities according to lived experiences and the assessed costs and benefits of living with wildlife. In a changing global context, a “perception-practice loop” emerges, where shifts in local practices directly affect attitudes toward wildlife. This study uses a mixed-methods approach - combining qualitative and statistical analysis of semi-structured interviews - to examine how evolving elephant handling practices in Laos influence direct interactions with and perceptions of wild elephants. Our findings indicate that owners adapt their strategies to diverse socio-ecological contexts driven by recent global pressures. These practices, often grounded in reciprocity, shape perceptions and levels of tolerance toward wild individuals. The results indicate that tolerance depends less on aggressive elephant behavior and more on the perceived balance of costs and benefits. While wild elephants impose psychological or delayed burdens, they also provide tangible and symbolic benefits, such as mating opportunities and conservation value. We conclude that fostering reciprocal relationships and integrating traditional knowledge can enhance human-wildlife coexistence, supporting both biodiversity and local well-being.