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Karnataka to get its very first Indian Grey Wolf sanctuary at Bankapura

The state of Karnataka is all set to get its first Wolf sanctuary, primarily dedicated to the Indian Grey Wolf. In a Lok Sabha session held in Feb 2021, Babul Supriyo, MOS, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, stated that the Government of Karnataka has approved the setting up of a “Wolf Sanctuary” in the Bankapura area. This move has been undertaken to conserve the habitat of the Indian Grey Wolf in the Koppal Division of Karnataka.

The Indian Grey Wolf is listed under Schedule-I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The species is also listed in the Appendix-I of the Conservation on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) making its preservation critically imminent for sustaining a balanced ecosystem.

Know about the Indian Grey Wolf

The Indian grey wolf is genetically unique from all other wolf species worldwide and is believed to have evolved from an ancient wolf lineage that existed around 400,000 years ago. It ranges from Israel, Syria, southern Iraq, southern Iran, and Kuwait in the Middle East to southern Afghanistan, Pakistan to India. Intermediate in size between the Himalayan wolf and the Arabian wolf, the Indian grey wolf lacks the former’s luxuriant winter coat as it is found across the arid and semi-arid regions of the Indian peninsula. It travels in smaller packs and is less vocal in comparison to the other variants of the grey wolf.

What caused an abundant species to fall under the most endangered species bracket?

The Indian grey wolf, that once roamed across the Indian peninsula nonchalantly, today finds its place amongst the species demanding conservation of the highest priority.

Indian Grey Wolf hunting finds its roots in History

Since the British rule in India, the Indian Grey wolves have been vilified and persecuted as vermin that feed on livestock. As per reports, about 200,000 Indian grey wolves were killed by the British in India.

Recent threats to the species

In recent years, the species has been facing additional threats. The conversion of forest areas into agricultural fields has shrunk its hunting ground, reducing wild prey. As a result of which, the species is forced to feed on livestock near villages, widening the human-wolf conflicts that threaten its long-term survival.

Currently, 2,000–3,000 Indian grey wolves survive in India, mainly in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. They occupy grasslands, scrublands, and agro forestry landscapes. It is seldom seen in parts of West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand.

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