Context:

The Himalayan Wolf has been assessed for the first time in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List. 

Himalayan Wolf Declared ‘Vulnerable’ on IUCN Red List

• The assessment is based on a 2018 study led by a team of British and Nepalese researchers confirming the genetically unique lineage nature of the Himalayan or Woolly wolf.
• Himalayan wolf has now  been categorised as ‘Vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List with just 2,275-3,792 mature individuals in the wild remaining.

About Himalayan Wolves: Majestic Giants of the High Altitude Grasslands 

• Scientific Name: Canis lupus Chanco
• Range Distribution: They are found in high altitudinal regions in the Himalayas and the Tibetan plateau of  India, Nepal and China.
• Habitat: High altitude Grasslands
• Morphology: It is larger in size than the Indian and European wolves. They reach upto 110-180 cm in length, about 75 cm tall at the shoulder and weigh around 50 kg. 
• Feeding habits: Their  prey base  includes yak, kiang, bharal, Tibetan gazelle, Siberian ibex, marmot and other small mammals like hare. 

Himalayan Wolf Conservation Challenges: Human-Wildlife Conflict, Hybridisation, and Habitat Loss

• Threats to Himalayan Wolf:

• • Human-Wildlife Conflict: Encroachment and depletion of wild prey populations resulting in the animal coming in for livestock population.
  • Feral Dogs: Hybridisation with dogs was an emerging threat to the Himalayan wolf population in Ladakh and Spiti where increasing populations of feral dogs pose a growing challenge.
  • Hunting: They are  illegally hunted for trade in its fur and body parts including paws, tongues, heads, and other parts. 
  • Losing Habitat: Their grassland habitat is constantly changing its nature due to climate change, encroachment, overgrazing, and human activities.

Conserving the Himalayan Wolf: Strategies for Prey Populations, Livestock Protection, and Public Awareness

• Securing and restoring healthy wild prey populations and landscapes and setting aside wildlife habitat refuges.
• Livestock Guarding Methods: Use methods such as predator-proof corral pens and using sustainable livestock herding practices, including reduced livestock loads, adapted herding.
• Management of feral dog populations
• Trans-boundary efforts in conservation of the species in range countries through research and monitoring.
• Improving herding/pasture management practices for Himalayan Wolf populations that are heavily dependent on livestock, like in Ladakh.
• Incorporating the Himalayan Wolf in conservation programmes, which may assist with promoting public acceptance and reducing persecution.
  • India is also home to the Indian/Common/Peninsular Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) found in the plains and the Deccan Plateau.

News Source: Down to Earth