Description

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context:

Recently a wolf has given birth to eight pups at the Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary in Koppal district.

About the Indian Wolf (A subspecies of Gray Wolf)

Aspect	Details
Range	Southwest Asia to the Indian subcontinent
Behavior	Travels in smaller packs Less vocal compared to other wolf variants Nocturnal, hunts from dusk to dawn
Appearance	Medium-sized Lies between Tibetan and Arabian wolves in size Lacks a lush winter coat due to living in warmer conditions
Habitat	Dominated by scrub, grassland, and semi-arid pastoral agroecosystems
Distribution	Widely distributed from the Indian subcontinent to Israel
Protection Status	IUCN: Least Concern CITES: Annex 1 Nature Conservation Act 1972: Schedule I
Threats	Habitat loss Depletion of prey species

Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary

Location: It is located in the state of Karnataka. It is now India's second protected area dedicated exclusively to wolves after the Mahuadanr Wolf Sanctuary, established in 1976 in the erstwhile undivided Bihar (now in Jharkhand).
Terrain: Consists of scrubby forests, hills, and natural caves.
Fauna: The sanctuary is home to many species of wildlife, including wolves, leopards, peacocks, marmots, foxes, hares and porcupines.

Operation Bhediya

Initiative: Forest Department, Uttar Pradesh.

Objective: Capture and neutralize the pack of wolves responsible for the recent attacks. Technology and Strategy:

Drone cameras: Used to locate and track wolves. Thermal Drone Mapping: Used for effective surveillance at night.

Legal Framework: The Office of the Chief Wildlife Warden can authorize the hunting of a Schedule I wild animal if it poses a danger to humans by issuing a reasoned order in writing.

READ ABOUT

Indian Grey Wolf Conservation

Source:

The Hindu

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q.Consider the following statements regarding the Indian grey wolf:

It is found in high altitudes in the Himalayan regions.
It is a keystone predator in its ecosystem.
It is listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

How many of the above statements is/are correct?

A) Only one

B) Only two

C) All three

D) None

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) primarily inhabits arid and semi-arid regions, grasslands, and scrublands of peninsular India, not the high-altitude Himalayan regions. The Himalayan regions are home to a distinct subspecies, the Himalayan wolf. Wolves are monogamous and mate for life. The breeding season occurs from mid-October to late December.

Statements 2 and 3 are correct: The Indian grey wolf plays a crucial role as an apex predator in semi-arid ecosystems, regulating prey populations and maintaining ecological balance. The Indian grey wolf is accorded the highest level of legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. IUCN status is Endangered. Indian grey wolves live in small packs of 6–8 individuals or even smaller groups compared to other grey wolf subspecies.