On paper, the formula is classic: the screening of a film, followed by a debate with the audience and exchanges with participants. The idea is to create an open and constructive moment to discuss the return of the wolf to the Hauts-de-France region. But what can we expect from this type of event? Let’s try to assess the situation. Because as often happens with this topic, the issue is not only about what will be said… it’s also about who is at the table, and within what framework.
A wolf comeback that tangibly changes the situation
For a long time, the wolf seemed far from the Hauts-de-France region. A topic for the mountains, Alpine breeders, and specialized reports. But today, its presence is mentioned in all 5 departments of the region.
In the agricultural world, this presence, although diffuse, raises very concrete concerns. It must be said that outside our region, where the wolf has been established for years, the returns often come in the same forms: pressure on herds, changes in work organization, heavy investments in fences and protection dogs, mental fatigue as well. And despite the measures in place, the “cohabitation” advocated by FNE and others remains, for many breeders, imperfect.
Faced with the distress of breeders, wolf advocates remind us that the canid plays a real ecological role, is part of the natural dynamics of ecosystems, and its return is also a sign of an environment that is reshaping itself. The reality is that these two perspectives are conflicting.
The film and debate format
The documentary “Wolf, where are you?” is presented as a “sensitive and immersive” investigation, giving voice to different actors: breeders, naturalists, authorities. In principle, this is exactly what one would expect from a public debate film. But in practice, for the evenings scheduled for May 20 and 21, one gets the feeling that the participants have been carefully selected:
– Vincent Gavériaux (Groupe Ornithologique et Naturaliste du Nord) – Hans Westerling (Natagora, wolf specialist) – Emmanuelle Latouche (French Office for Biodiversity)
Are these legitimate, competent, and useful profiles to understand the subject? Certainly! But one question arises: where are the breeders directly facing the attacks? Where is the structured agricultural voice, either syndicated or from the field? Perhaps in the room, for those who have attended the screenings and are willing to engage with the announced participants.
Unfortunately, saying “we will debate the wolf” does not automatically mean that all positions are equal in the discussion. Between those who see the wolf’s return as an ecological reality, and those who experience its impacts as a direct constraint on their activity, the framework is not neutral. In many agricultural territories, the perception is: breeders are asked to adapt to an already ongoing reality, not to discuss its relevance.
Conversely, from an environmental standpoint, the discourse often revolves around the need to find a compromise, without questioning the fundamental principle of the predator’s return.
A topic that is also evolving at the European level
This local debate is part of a broader context. Since 2024-2025, the European Union has begun to review its position on the wolf, under pressure from several member states facing an increase in attacks and strong agricultural opposition. The protective status has been relaxed, allowing for more regulatory flexibility in certain cases.
In France as well, there is a trend towards more operational flexibility: defense shooting, regulated control, adaptation of rules according to the territories.
This change does not question the presence of the wolf, but it signifies something important: the issue is no longer just ecological or symbolic. It has become political, economic, and social.
A fundamental question at heart: who defines the framework of the debate?
This type of screening-debate has a real purpose: to inform, confront different viewpoints, and move beyond stereotypes. Yet, there remains a central question that goes beyond this specific event: is the framework of the debate open enough so that contradictory positions are not only heard… but truly represented? To find out, mark your calendars for May 20 and 21 in Douai and Valenciennes.
