Lausitz, spring 2000: The first wolf pack establishes itself in the Federal Republic of Germany. A species once eradicated begins to explore a country that has changed profoundly. From the outset, the spread of these large predators is accompanied—and shaped—by narratives. Traditional knowledge encounters new insights into the coexistence of wolves and humans. But who, in fact, is telling stories about whom? And what exactly is being negotiated when people speak of the “return of the wolves”? Drawing on empirical studies conducted in the Lausitz region, Marlis Heyer paints a nuanced portrait of an area in transition. She not only explores questions of human–wolf coexistence but also, through various theoretical approaches, examines the possibilities and limits of narrative research that extends beyond human perspectives.

This book is included in DOAB.