Wild animals find their own food in nature

In Javnem zavodu Triglavski narodni park we warn that feeding wild animals is not good for either people or animals; for the latter, the type and quantity of such food is harmful in several respects.
Triglavski narodni park is worth visiting for many also because of the wild animals that a visitor with a careful eye and a bit of luck can observe in nature. At Javnem zavodu Triglavski narodni park (JZ TNP) we also warn that approaching wild animals can be dangerous, and feeding such animals, even if well-intentioned, can do more harm than good.



Wild animals are adapted to life in nature, which also includes finding food on their own. Their digestive system is adapted to the natural conditions in which they live, both in terms of the type and quantity of food and the feeding characteristics of a particular animal species according to the season.



Dangerous loss of animals' fear of humans



The type and quantity of food that animals occasionally (or even regularly with more visitors) receive from people is harmful to them in several respects, as it affects the natural state of both digestive processes and the habits of individual animals. They may lose their innate fear of humans and adapt their behaviour to obtaining food from sources associated with humans. Such behaviour increases the likelihood of direct contact with people and the occurrence of dangerous situations.



An apparently pleasant close encounter with a wild animal can thus end with physical injuries or illness to humans. The behaviour of wild animals, which generally avoid contact with humans, is unpredictable and can quickly turn into intrusive or even aggressive behaviour, such as strikes, bites, scratches and the like. Wild animals can also transmit diseases and parasites that harm humans as well, such as rabies.



Harmfulness of human food and changing habits for animals



Changing habits is also harmful to the individual animal. An animal accustomed to obtaining food easily from humans gradually stops searching for food sources in nature. In composition and preparation, human food is also completely incomparable to that with which the animal feeds in its natural environment, so it harms the animal's health and vitality and can lead to disease or even death. Loss of fear of humans, due to the risks of conflict situations, can lead to decisions by the competent inspection services to capture the animal. Feeding wild animals can also result in a penalty for you.

Source: https://www.tnp.si/sl/javni-zavod/medijsko-sredisce/novice/novica/397/prostozivece-zivali-si-v-naravi-same-poiscejo-hrano.html