Grey wolf returns! Rare sighting reported in Delhi after several decades

Delhi, a rapidly industrialized and population-dense city, is not typically known for surprising wildlife encounters. Yet, patches of natural habitat along the periphery of the city, like Yamuna floodplains and the Delhi ridge, have consistently remained alive as green refugees in the midst of urban sprawl.

In a surprising turn of events, a presumed Indian grey wolf ( Canis lupus pallipes ) was reportedly spotted close to the Yamuna floodplains of Delhi, signaling a possible return of a species so rare that it was last spotted many decades ago. They were seen in the vicinity of the Palla area, which is the point where the Yamuna River enters the city, and this is not usually known for any such rare wildlife sighting.

This reported Indian grey wolf was initially spotted by Hemant Garg, who is 41, a businessman, and a wildlife lover. Initially, he noticed that the animal had a peculiar grey color and pattern, which made him take pictures before it moved into the bushes.

What contributed to the sudden decline in their numbers?In the past, this Indian grey wolf was a frequent predator of the Delhi Ridge region. Since the early 20th century, indications are that the forests of the ridge contained a rich diversity of fauna. Hyenas, leopards, blackbuck, and chinkara were the most frequent sightings of animals here. But the recent sighting brings to mind the present range of the species and the possibility of solitary individuals moving long distances. An interesting fact and an even more interesting sighting, isn’t it?

Endangered status and roadblocks aheadThe Indian grey wolf is classified as "Endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and has been estimated to have a population of 2,000 to 3,000 individuals in India. As the species is Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, it is subject to numerous threats, including habitat fragmentation, human-wildlife conflict , and hybridization with feral dogs.
One of the most important challenges in conserving the Indian grey wolf is that most of its suitable habitat lies outside of protected areas. A study has indicated that out of approximately 4.2 lakh square kilometers of available habitat, only around 18,000 square kilometers are highly suitable, and only 1,332 square kilometers lie within protected areas. This is bound to increase the possibility of human-wolf conflict, as wolves attack livestock in the absence of natural prey, which triggers retaliatory killings by pastoralists.

Additionally, the growing population of free-ranging domestic dogs in rural India poses a threat to hybridization and disease transmission, such as canine distemper and rabies.

Y.V. Jhala (ex-dean, Wildlife Institute of India), who has done extensive research on Indian wolves, commented on the sighting, saying, " It does have a wolfish shape to it, but the curving of the tail and the dark coloration point towards the possibility of a hybrid with dogs. Till genetic analysis is done, nothing can be confirmed." he went on to say that although such occurrences are uncommon, they cannot be ruled out entirely since wolves are known to travel long distances.

The online and local community reaction fueled a diverse array of emotions that ranged from fear and concern over the safety of locals to excitement. On the internet, a majority were surprised and curious, while others demanded that conservation efforts be implemented in the short term.