Ecology and conservation of Himalayan wolf: Phase 1

Abstract and Slides presented at VII- Internal Annual Research Seminar (IARS) of Wildlife Institute of India on 10th October' 2011

Molecular studies on wolves in India reveal the presence of three different lineages. The Himalayan lineage, from Spiti to Sikkim, including Nepal, and the peninsular lineage are the most ancient lineages of the world. Population estimation of wolves in Ladakh and Spiti by earlier workers revealed the presence of around 350 individuals left in the wild. Nevertheless, aspects of their biology and ecology were never investigated. The current project was initiated to fill this gap.

A baseline survey is currently in progress across the Himalayan and Trans-Himalayan landscapes to identify key areas for wolf conservation. Since October 2010, 90 villages and groups of nomadic herders were visited and 244 interviews were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires for obtaining records of wolf sighting by the local people and livestock predation, in the states of Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. Indices were developed to compare the level of wolf-human conflict and wolf presence across the Protected Areas. 

Read further and find other abstracts from here
Visit Wildlife Institute of India and MBZ-Species Conservation Fund websites