The Strained Cohabitation with Wolves in France: Insights from a Multidisciplinary Approach

This communication is situated within the framework of an action-research project in management. The aim of the project is to identify ways to facilitate coexistence between livestock farmers and the wolf, which has recently returned to French territories, while proposing adapted farming systems An initial review of popular literature (such as the press and online forums) highlights a sharp divide between two opposing groups: anti-wolf and pro-wolf, whose narratives about the animal are starkly different. Farmers report numerous cases of predation, that are often denied or downplayed by both authorities and environmentalists. Both sides accuse each other of either denying the facts or romanticising the wilderness. These opposing views impede the development of a shared solution, ultimately resulting in the culling of wolves. Drawing on traditional disciplines related to wolf predation (such as agronomy, history, and zoology) helps assess the likelihood of different perceptions of the wolf. However, these do not fully account for the intensity of the conflict or the persistence of the wolf as a mythical figure. To overcome the limitations of conventional frameworks, we turn to concepts from the Arts and Literature, which are better equipped to address such narratives. Gender studies, decolonialism, and ecocriticism thus prove particularly valuable in offering fresh, productive perspectives. Equipped with these new insights, we have returned to the field with a bespoke methodology, including participatory immersion in the agricultural work of farmers, often engaging in their local Occitan dialect. Our findings and proposals challenge the dominant literature. We therefore question whether these divergences arise from the limitations of the interdisciplinary hybrid approach, or whether, conversely, it opens up new avenues for research.