This ambivalence was most prevalent in the perception of a wolf following travellers. Some believed that they were not to turn and look at the wolf until they had reached the village lest he attacked, whereas others perceived the following wolf as a protector on the road....this legend is even incorporated in the scientific name of the Japanese Wolf, Hodophylax. Humans, like most animals, are most dangerous when threatened or confused. Fear of this tiny wolf developed out of all proportion to its actual threat. Before such an obsession The Japanese Wolf could not hope to survive.