The disturbing awareness of visitors with regard to wildlife in the Gesäuse National Park

Recreational and sports activities are steadily increasing in scenically attractive areas with high natural value. The high number of visitors in large protected areas not only leads to numerous conflicts between visitors, but also has an enormous impact on the life of wildlife. Recovery seekers are generally very unaware of their effects on wildlife. In the summer of 2019, 250 visitors to the Gesäuse National Park were interviewed about their awareness of disturbances in wildlife. The influence of the natural spaces on the health well-being of those seeking relaxation in the Gesäuse National Park was also investigated. 65 % of people surveyed in the Gesäuse National Park were aware that wildlife is generally disturbed by recreational activities of visitors to the Gesäuse National Park; however, only 15 percent of people surveyed thought that they were disturbed by their own recreational activity on the day of the survey. or had troubled. The activities of dogs without a leash, walking away from the paths, and forest work were evaluated by the persons surveyed with the greatest impact. The age and professional activity of the respondents were factors that had a significant impact on disorder awareness. The health condition as well as the stress level of the surveyed visitors were significantly affected by their stay in the Gesäuse National Park. improved. Awareness-raising and communication measures are proposed in order to minimise the impact of leisure activities and to increase the understanding of national park visitors for these measures in order to facilitate their behaviour. adapting.