Down To Earth speaks to Bilal Habib from the Wildlife Institute of India about the current situation of the Indian wolf or Canis lupus pallipes
India is home to two types of wolves. There is the Himalayan or Woolly wolf (Canis lupus chanco) found in the Himalayas. There is also the Indian, Common or Peninsular Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) found in the plains of the country as well as the Deccan Plateau.
The Indian wolf, one of the keystone species of Indian grasslands, is fighting for survival. It faces a host of challenges which could cause its extinction if corrective steps are not taken.
This International Wolf Day, Down To Earth speaks to Bilal Habib, scientist at Dehradun’s Wildlife Institute of India, about the slender thread that the Indian wolf is hanging from in the country. Edited excerpts:
Rajat Ghai (RG): Recently, reports have come in of Indian wolf sightings from places they are not usually expected in: The Sundarbans, Chhattisgarh, Melghat. What do you make of these?
Bilal Habib (BH): It is possible that the increased use of technology like camera traps has allowed us to document Indian wolf sightings in unexpected places.
This suggests that wolves might have been surviving in these pockets even though we previously believed they had been extirpated. Technology enables us to gather more accurate and comprehensive data about their distribution and behaviour.
RG: How would you sum up the current situation of the Indian wolf? What sort of challenges does it face today which need immediate attention?
BH: The current situation of the Indian wolf is not promising. It may be one of the most endangered carnivores in India. While there have been recent reports of sightings in unexpected areas, the species still faces various challenges.
These challenges include habitat loss due to human activities, fragmentation of their natural range, human-wolf conflicts leading to retaliatory killings, and potential disease outbreaks.
Immediate attention is needed to implement effective conservation measures such as habitat protection, community engagement to reduce conflicts, and scientific research to better understand their population dynamics and behaviour. The best wolf habitat is in the human heart. We just need to leave some space for them.
RG: Can former Indian wolf habitat be resurrected?
BH: Resurrecting former Indian wolf habitat is a complex endeavour that involves a combination of ecological restoration, conservation efforts, and community involvement.
While it may not be possible to fully recreate the exact historical habitat, it is feasible to restore and rehabilitate certain areas to make them more suitable for Indian wolves and other wildlife.
This can involve understanding the ecology of the species in changing scenarios, reducing disturbance around denning and rendezvous sites, and maintaining the connectivity of species in changing developmental paradigms.
A holistic approach that considers both habitat restoration and sustainable coexistence with wolves is crucial for their long-term survival and well-being.
RG: What, in your view, is the current population of the Indian wolf?
BH: As per my knowledge and available information, there are around 700-900 adult pairs surviving in India. The current population of Indian wolves may be less than 2,000.
RG: Can the Indian wolf survive the coming years? Or is it too late?
BH: Yes, the wolf in India has so far survived not because of our conservation efforts, but by its ability to explore human-dominated landscapes and to live close to humans without major conflict.
Wolves will continue to survive if they are able to manage the next two decades in India. The next 20 years are very critical for most of the species in India, not only wolves.
The rural landscapes of India are still conducive to the presence of many species. Hope lies in the conservation ethos built in our society for most of the species, especially wolves which are our next-door neighbours. It is not too late. There is still time to act and conserve them for future generations.
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