ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author aims to reflect on different perceptions of the wolf and, for analytical purposes, simplistically separate them into the traditional and ecological, while exploring concepts closely linked to the status the wolf has achieved. Human–wolf coexistence throughout Europe has always been hard but today the wolf’s iconic status as a symbol of wilderness is aiding conservation efforts. At the beginning of the twentieth century, wolves were spread all over the country, but with more roads and fewer forests, prey diminished and habitat shrank. Although biology affirms the capacity of the species to thrive in humanized landscapes, paradoxically, the wolf remains as a symbol of wilderness. The wolf is definitely one of those natural elements that were selected as heritage to take into the future. It was selected by nature lovers, public opinion, and actors making heritage.
