Wolf, lynx, elks, tarpan, bison, sturgeon, salmon and more… Numerous species that had disappeared from our regions are now making a comeback. These reappearances are sometimes natural: wolves, for instance, strayed over the Italian border and recolonized France on their own; seals have gradually returned to the Bay of the Somme. They are also often the result of deliberately organized programs. Thus vultures were reintroduced to the cliffs of Causse Méjean, bears to the Pyrénées, sturgeon into the Garonne and the Dordogne, and many others… Whether the reintroduction happened all by itself or was helped along by human hands, these returns almost cause an outcry: not only does wildlife scare people and stir up all sorts of fantasies, it also calls into question certain habits, particularly in the fields of agriculture and stock breeding. In our widely anthropized regions, cohabitation between humans and wildlife isn’t always easy, and it can lead to conflict with hunters and farmers, particularly those who raise livestock. Yet this cohabitation is absolutely essential, and the return of wildlife cannot be conceived without the restoration of wilderness: species are inextricably linked with particular territories and habitats where they flourish. Only by reconstituting ecosystems in their entirety can we guarantee their permanence. Thus knocking out dams allows the local flora and fauna to reclaim their rightful place in the environment and to contribute once again to the region’s biological wealth and diversity, which in turn guarantee ideal conditions for the atmosphere and our planet.

Reintroductions of wild animals to our regions are becoming more common, but they are also problematic in terms of cohabitation with people. How much room are we willing to leave them, now that mankind and domesticated species represent 98% of the biomassof vertebrates on Earth? This book is a thoughtful appeal that forces us to consider some important questions.