A female Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus) has given birth to eight pups at the Bankapura wolf sanctuary in Karnataka. Their presence was filmed by a camera trap. This birth is being seen as a positive sign of the species’ growth, as Indian grey wolves are considered endangered mainly because of habitat loss, lesser prey animals in the habitats, and frequent human activities.
This marks the second instance of wolf pups being born in the sanctuary in recent months. In January, another female wolf had given birth to eight pups, bringing renewed hope for the survival of the species.
With the latest birth, the total wolf population in the sanctuary is estimated to have reached between 40 and 45 according to forest department officials.
To safeguard the newborn pups, authorities have installed surveillance cameras around their den and have urged visitors to avoid causing any disturbances in the area. The efforts taken by the forest department aim to create a secure environment that supports the natural growth of the Indian wolf population.
Non-profit Deccan Conservation Foundation (DCF) has been working in the field on multiple counts. Speaking to Down To Earth (DTE), DCF’s convenor, Indrajit Ghorpade, said “We have been able to convince the government to earmark a sizable Indian Grey Wolf habitat as a sanctuary. But the recent developments of at least three females littering 12 pups in the 50-kilometre radius means there is still hope for putting together a practical Indian grey wolf conservation movement on a larger scale. The latest litter indicates it was not just Bankapura in the Koppal district but also the adjacent area where another female has littered 3-4 pups. So we are altogether looking at 12-13 pups in the natural habitat of wolves.”
The Foundation, which is self-funded, has recommended to the forest department that habitat protection and habitat expansion, make available more prey animals for the wolves by infusing the natural prey animals of the wolves.
“I, for one, shudder at the thought of the young pups not finding food to survive. Presently, the habitat is not protected and there are too many incidents of human intervention. All these put together and there is an urgent need of a holistic policy to be taken by the government to protect Indian grey wolves,” Ghorpade told DTE.
Karnataka Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre said the sanctuary, spanning approximately 332 hectares under the Gangavathi wildlife division, plays a crucial role in protecting not just wolves but also other species such as leopards, hyenas, foxes, peacocks, hares, and porcupines.
He also emphasised that the Forest Department has strengthened measures to prevent poaching and ensure the safety of these animals.
Wolves are more than just predators among central Karnataka's shepherding communities. They are revered, even worshipped, for their role in lifting diseased or weak sheep from the herd. In a region where pastoralism is the lifeblood of the community, the loss of even a single sheep to illness can have dire consequences. The disease can spread rapidly, threatening the entire flock and the livelihood of the shepherds. However, the Indian grey wolf, with its keen instincts, is believed to target and prey upon the weaker, sicker individuals, essentially acting as nature’s culling system.
“Like us, they have a social bond, living in packs and communities. And we learn from their intelligence and resilience to adapt and evolve. They are not a threat, and we hope that they will survive modern sheep farmers who have no affinity or respect for the wolf. And the loss of our grasslands and grazing pastures or kavals,” Ghorpade told DTE.