Research overview: social identity and intergroup dimensions of carnivore conflict

This overview synthesises research showing that much apparent human-carnivore conflict is in fact conflict between human groups, communities versus conservation authorities, locals versus outsiders, expressed through attitudes to predators. It reviews how social identity, distrust of institutions, perceived imposition of wildlife protection, and historical marginalisation shape whether big cats are tolerated or killed, sometimes making predators symbolic proxies for deeper grievances. The literature draws on cases across lion, tiger, and leopard landscapes to argue that resolving conflict requires addressing governance, procedural fairness, and intergroup relations. The survey frames this social-identity lens as essential for understanding why technical interventions alone frequently fail to reduce hostility toward carnivores.