Niedźwiedź brunatny - stan wiedzy turystów i gimnazjalistów a potrzeby edukacji przyrodniczej

The paper analyses knowledge of secondary school pupils from Ustrzyki Dolne and tourists visiting the Bieszczady National Park. Both groups were surveyed in 2011−2012. Tourists and pupils were well−informed about the presence of brown bear in the Bieszczady (96%), but far less about its distribution in other mountain ranges. Nearly 30% of the questioned tourists were not aware of the fact that leaving organic leftovers is not allowed in bear habitats and both groups had problems with indicating the actual dangers for the population of brown bear in Poland. The most frequent reported damages caused by bears in Poland such as damages in apiaries were indicated by small number of pupils (6%), while the majority pointed out attacks on human (44%) and damages in households (21%). About 31% of pupils wrongly stated that fishes are often eaten by bears in Poland. Only a few of them (4%) wrote about leftovers as a possible source of food for bears. The research indicates that it is urgent to enhance a knowledge about a distribution of brown bear in Poland and a correct waste management in areas where bears are present.