Farisa Zarin
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Oday Salim
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Environmental Law & Sustainability Clinic / Law
Program:
Authors:
Session: Session 6: 3:40 pm – 4:30 pm
Poster: 55
Abstract
Wild animals and humans have co-existed since the beginning of time. Cultural, spiritual, and time periods influence how we regulate certain animal populations globally. Specifically, wolves and other large carnivorous creatures are interpreted as cruel, violent, and predatory throughout history. This research project examines historical legal wildlife management of wolves through literature review and legal research of historical laws about wolves in Europe and North America. The evolution of werewolves in European literature and modern American cinema showed how werewolves evolved from ancient sympathetic, cursed creatures to a modern metaphoric symbol of puberty and romanticized male sexuality. During the British-rule of India, British colonizers viewed tigers, a native creature to the Indian subcontinent, similar to how they viewed wolves: violent and predatory. Throughout history, wolves were hunted and legally bountied out of fear to protect humans and livestock, to the point where certain wolf populations are extinct in numerous regions of the world. Understanding the human-wolf relationship allows us to see how man-made laws evolve based on various circumstances. While humans and wolves have had a rocky relationship throughout history, this study continues to look at the depiction of the human-wolf relationship in foreign and domestic regions of the world through various art mediums.
