Integrating Sentiment Analysis and Thematic Analysis to Measure and Contextualise Human Emotions Towards Asiatic Black Bears in Darjeeling Himalaya

Human–wildlife coexistence is threatened by perceived conflicting interests between humans and wildlife, as well as among humans themselves. Wildlife management authorities are placed in difficult positions when the species involved is a large, vulnerable carnivore such as the Asiatic black bear (bear; Ursus thibetanus). Reports of negative human–bear encounters underscore the fragility of their coexistence. Persistent impacts range in intensity from damage to human livelihoods to lethal outcomes for bears and people. Despite this, there is a limited understanding of the immediate and long-term consequences of such interactions for the future of human–bear coexistence. This study aimed to investigate the cascade of emotional and behavioral responses triggered by these interactions. We focused on foundational aspects of human cognition—specifically, emotions—and examined the resulting behavioral outcomes among smallholder farmers in the mid-hills of the Eastern Himalayas in India. Using interdisciplinary methods—sentiment analysis, a modern computational technique, and thematic analysis, a more traditional qualitative approach—we analyzed 43 interviews conducted with individuals living in these bear-inhabited landscapes. Participants commonly reported experiencing emotions such as anger, fear, sadness, and disgust (descending order) in response to bear behaviors, particularly crop raiding and livestock predation. A newly emerging behavior—predation on domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus)—appears to have intensified adverse emotional reactions and frustration among respondents. Despite these challenges, participants acknowledge the historical presence of bears in the landscape and do not support lethal control or eradication. This underlying acceptance represents a critical foundation for promoting coexistence. To sustain and strengthen this attitude, it is essential to recognize and support local tolerance through compensation schemes, insurance programs, and the development of alternative livelihood options. Sentiment analysis serves as an effective instrument for assessing human emotions pertaining to wildlife. The implementation of this tool facilitates regular monitoring of the dynamics of human-wildlife interactions (HWI) and aids in tracking the degradation of coexistence scenarios. However, to comprehend the context of the emotions reported, it is imperative to conduct a thorough investigation concurrently, such as by employing thematic analysis.