The most ancient Indian wolf is set to be a new species

The Most Ancient Indian Wolf to Be Classified as a New Species 

Context:

The Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), a rare and little-understood predator inhabiting India’s semi-arid grasslands and scrublands, is set to be recognised as a distinct species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

This development follows new genomic studies revealing that it represents the oldest living lineage of any wolf in the world.

Key Highlights:

1. New Species Classification:
   • The Indian wolf, previously grouped under the grey wolf (Canis lupus), is expected to be recognised as a separate species by IUCN.
   • This will raise the global count of wolf species to eight.
2. Oldest Wolf Lineage:
   • Genetic and DNA sequencing studies show that the Indian wolf diverged earlier than other wolf lineages.
   • It possesses unique evolutionary traits distinct from European and Central Asian grey wolves.
3. Current Status:
   • The IUCN has listed the Indian wolf as “Vulnerable” on the Red List.
   • Estimated population: ~3,000 individuals across India and Pakistan.
4. Habitat:
   • Found in semi-arid regions, scrublands, and grasslands, often labeled as “wastelands.”
   • Key regions: Deccan Plateau, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and parts of Pakistan.
5. Major Threats:
   • Poisoning and persecution due to livestock predation.
   • Habitat loss from highways, solar farms, and industrial projects (e.g., Adani Solar Farm in Kutch).
   • Decline of natural prey base such as blackbuck and chinkara.
   • Hybridization with feral dogs, spreading diseases like rabies.
   • Human-wildlife conflict incidents, notably in Bahraich district (U.P.) in 2024–25, driven by extreme poverty and lack of prey.
6. Conservation Implications:
   • Recognition as a distinct species could attract global attention and funding.
   • Experts argue that wolves, like bustards, need co-existence-based conservation rather than strictly protected areas.
   • Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, granting it the highest legal protection.
7. Expert Opinions:
   • Y.V. Jhala (Indian National Science Academy):
     Emphasized habitat destruction and hybridization as major threats.
   • Abi Vanak (ATREE):
     Stressed that wolves are models of human-wildlife coexistence, requiring policies that incentivise local protection rather than exclusion.
8. Policy Outlook:
   • IUCN’s reclassification calls for a national-level management and conservation plan.
   • Focus on grassland ecosystem protection, community-based conservation, and disease control in feral dogs.

Static Data for UPSC:

Updated - October 16, 2025 07:00 am | The Hindu