Wildlife viewing in the mountain national parks of Canada: An experiential view.

The topic of wildlife tourism has received considerable academic attention within the last decade. While much of the existing literature has focused specifically on the impacts of tourism/recreation activities on wildlife, much less attention has been given to understanding visitor perceptions and experiences viewing wildlife. This research examines visitor experience viewing wildlife in the mountain national parks of Canada by: 1) identifying what factors contribute to a meaningful wildlife viewing experience and 2) identifying the value and meaning of wildlife viewing experiences for park visitors. A mixed-method approach largely based on qualitative data revealed that while there is an individual set of themes present that contribute to meaningful wildlife experiences, more important is the processing of the visitors emotions throughout the experience. This finding suggests that truly meaningful wildlife experiences may be the result of a series of stages over time, rather than based solely on the moment of the encounter. Based on the data interpreted, recommendations for management and future research are provided. Management plans should provide direction for implementing programs to assist visitors in continuing to process their wildlife experiences over the long term. --Leaf iii.