Is everything we know about wildlife rooted in science—or is it shaped by cultural beliefs? 

What role does culture actually play in the disappearance of species? Sometimes, how we act toward animals is guided not just by facts, but by the stories we grew up with—stories that may be misleading, that have driven species to the brink, and that complicate our ability to coexist.

You probably grew up hearing tales of the ‘big bad wolf’ or the image of gentle bears enjoying honey. It’s ingrained in us to think something about these animals, whether negative or positive. With Claire, we’ll unpack these stories.

Most importantly, how have these narratives influenced how we’ve erased these animals from our landscapes—and how are we now reintroducing them?

Today, we explore these fascinating questions with Claire Galloni D’Istria, a biologist and anthropologist whose work focuses on two iconic Alpine species: wolves and bears.

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