The mountains — a home for animals or a refuge for humans?

Abstract

When thinking about nature, it is impossible to overlook fauna, which contributes to its constant transformation, mainly through the development of new species. The author of the article sheds light on the current situation of animals living e.g. in national parks, focusing on pro-environmental activities on social media and non-virtual media, and on destructive human behaviour. The growing tourism- and economy-related infrastructurisation of the mountains as well as their increasingly frequent exploration by humans force animals to change their familiar habitats. Owing to the animals’ natural territorialism as well as instinctive fight for species survival, in the case of stronger specimens we often see altruistic actions to protect the group under threat. The interference of humans with the natural environment forces animals to acquire social behaviours which are a consequence of a long adaptation process. The author of the article also examines selected aspects of ethology, that is study of inherited and acquired animal behaviour. However, the appropriation of the mountains by humans and their adaptation to human needs are characterised by a relatively high awareness of the impact on animal life, a fact reflected in numerous ecological and faunistic campaigns seeking to protect natural habitats and their indigenous residents. The article also features an analysis of campaigns and projects that are to make people sensitive to the fact that they are guests at a home of species other than the human species.