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Vanishing Wolves of Kadbanwadi
How Stray Dogs Threaten India’s Grey Wolves
Context: Located 276 km from Mumbai, the Kadbanwadi grassland in Maharashtra’s Pune district transforms with the seasons—golden in summer, lush green in monsoon. This 2,000-hectare ecosystem is home to the Shegar Dhangar shepherds, Bengal foxes, striped hyenas, and the Indian grey wolf—an apex predator crucial to maintaining ecological balance.
Why Are Indian Grey Wolves Disappearing?
- The IUCN Red List and India’s Schedule I protect these wolves, yet their numbers are dwindling.
- From 70 wolves in 2016, only 11 were spotted in 2024, with just 6 in recent counts.
- Key threats include:
- Habitat loss due to agriculture and urban expansion.
- Attacks by free-ranging dogs—descendants of strays that hunt in packs of 5-50.
- Disease transmission (canine distemper, rabies, parvovirus).
- Hybridisation with dogs, weakening wolf genetics.
Indian Grey Wolf
The Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) is a subspecies of the grey wolf found across Southwest Asia and the Indian subcontinent, with its range extending from Israel to India. It is adapted to the warmer, arid, and semi-arid regions of peninsular India, thriving in scrublands, grasslands, and semi-arid agro-ecosystems rather than dense forests.
Physical Description:
- Size: Intermediate between the Himalayan and Arabian wolves. Shoulder height is typically 57–72 cm, with males weighing 19–25 kg and females 17–22 kg.
- Appearance: Shorter fur with little to no underfur, adapted for warmer climates. The fur is generally grayish-red to reddish-white, with grizzled black hairs, especially along the back, and a paler underside.
- Distinctive Features: Lacks the thick winter coat of its northern relatives. The back often shows a dark V-shaped patch around the shoulders. Pups are born sooty-brown with a milk-white chest patch that fades with age.
Behavior and Ecology:
- Social Structure: Indian grey wolves live in smaller packs, usually 4–8 individuals, often just the alpha pair and their offspring. Lone wolves are also observed.
- Vocalisation: Less vocal than other wolf subspecies, rarely howling. Their vocalizations include howls, whimpering, social squeals, and whines.
- Activity: Primarily nocturnal, hunting from dusk to dawn.
- Diet: Apex predators in their habitats, preying on blackbuck antelope, rodents, hares, and sometimes livestock. Hunting strategies vary: coordinated ambushes for antelope, spreading out for smaller prey, and using cunning tactics to lure prey.
Habitat and Distribution:
- Preferred Habitat: Scrublands, open grasslands, and semi-arid regions, often close to human habitation.
- Geographical Range: Peninsular India (notably in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Gujarat), parts of Southwest Asia, and extending west to Israel.
- Protected Areas: Notably present in Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary (Karnataka) and Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary (Jharkhand), the only two protected areas dedicated exclusively to wolves in India.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN: Endangered (population: 2,000–3,000)
- CITES: Appendix I
- Indian Law: Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest protection)
- Threats: Major threats include habitat loss, depletion of prey species, and human-wildlife conflict, especially due to livestock predation.
- Cultural Reference: The Indian grey wolf is famously depicted as “Akela” in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book, symbolising strength and leadership.
Stray Dogs: A Growing Menace
- Villagers report 6-8 dog packs scavenging near poultry farms and attacking livestock. Unlike wolves, which rarely harm humans, these feral dogs:
- Attack shepherds and children grazing livestock.
- Spread deadly diseases to wolves through bites and contact.
- Disrupt pack dynamics, leading to wolf decline.
Conservation Challenges
- Despite Maharashtra Forest Rules (2014) allowing stray dog removal, officials hesitate due to backlash from animal rights activists.
- Vaccination drives are difficult as dogs are hard to catch.
