A Brief Report for the Conservation the Indian Wolf and Its Habitats In
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A brief report on the conservation of the Indian Wolf and its habitats in Koppal, Karnataka The Indian Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) is listed under Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. They were widely distributed across the Indian subcontinent, but their numbers have sharply declined and are endangered, due to loss of habitats, illegal wildlife trade, hunting, poaching, trapping, and the drastic reduction of prey species. Also called the Indian Grey Wolf, they are presently surviving in isolated, human dominated pockets of the Deccan. Misunderstood due to misinformation and folklore and its predation on livestock they were classified as ‘vermin’ and systematically killed and eradicated all over India. Even though the Indian Wolf has been accorded the highest protection at par with Tigers, they have been neglected and are living on the edge of extinction. Less than 3,000 are estimated to remain and live in unsustainable pockets. Some parts of the Eastern plains of North Karnataka, such as Jhamkandi in Bagalkote, Yelburga in Koppal. The potential habitats that have been identified in Koppal district are: 1) TwalaHalla Community Preserve 2) Bankapura Reserve Forest 3) Mandalamari Community Preserve Interestingly, most of our wildlife live in human dominated non protected areas and the Indian Wolf and Black bucks are mostly found surviving here. An alpha female Indian Grey Wolf surveys her territory and looks out for prey 1. Twalahalla Community Preserve: The quadrilateral area that spreads between Sanganal-Karmudi-Mudhol in Yelburga taluk is a very good habitat for Indian Grey Wolves. This area is home to two packs of wolves and approximately 12-15 wolves survive here. The entire landscape of this area comprises of black cotton soil where farmers grow rain fed crop such as Horse gram, Jowar, Sunflower, Green chilly etc. A small populations of Indian Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) roam these vast plains . The extinct legendary Asiatic Cheetah once roamed these wide open grasslands of the Deccan plains. During the monsoon, rain water flows in seasonal streams and rivulets where Ballari Jaali (Prosopis juliflora) and other local flora grow and provide an ideal habitat for Indian Wolves and other fauna that make these habitats their home. One such stream is called as Twalahalla – “the stream of wolves”. They hunt blackbuck, livestock and breed in this region. The critically endangered Great Indian Bustard has also been sighted around this landscape, but is rarely seen. Migratory birds such as Isabelline Wheatear and Desert Wheatear have been sighted in this region which is a very rare winter migrant. This habitat of black cotton soil spread from Bannikoppa-Banapura to Yelburga-Mudhol, is proposed to be declared as a Community Conservation Preserve to give the Indian Wolf and other species a safe and secured home to survive. 2) Bankapura Reserve Forest An undisturbed scrub jungle in Gangavathi taluk in Koppal district is another potential habitat of Indian Wolves and Leopards. Located adjacent to Bankapura and Sulekal villages, it is a scrub jungle that has rocky boulders and thorny bushes and has provided safe shelter and breeding habitat for the Indian Grey Wolf. Deccan Conservation Foundation along with Karnataka Forest Department’s permission has installed camera traps to observe the wildlife movement, as it was an ideal habitat for Sloth Bear, Leopard, Striped Hyena and Indian Grey Wolf. Our camera traps have successfully identified a pack of wolves in this area, along with Striped Hyenas, Leopards, Sloth Bear, Jackals, Jungle Cat, Rusty-spotted Cat, Ruddy Mongoose and Indian Porcupine till now. The topographical map of the proposed protected area is shown below, having potential for micro habitats to protect, preserve and conserve wildlife in these contested spaces Our interests lie in documenting and studying the wildlife in such areas to be able to give weight to their conservation. Such a high diversity of carnivores found outside protected area needs to be highlighted for a better conservation policy, which is inclusive of those populations in non-protected areas. 3) Mandalamari Community Preserve: A small undisturbed scrub jungle in Yelburga taluk in Koppal district is another potential habitat of the Indian Wolf. Located adjacent to Mandalamari village, it is a scrub jungle that has rocky boulders and thorny bushes and has provided a safe shelter and breeding habitat for Indian Wolves. The rocky hillocks in this area are the highest point in Yelburga Taluk and one of the few remaining habitats. Deccan Conservation Foundation has identified a pack of wolves in this area by primary surveys and also found that they are breeding in dens within these rocky caves. These wolves are the resident pack and go around the farmlands in the vicinity to feed upon the small mammals, fruits and other foods in their diet. The topographical map of the proposed protected area is shown below, having potential for micro habitats to protect, preserve and conserve wildlife in these contested spaces. Conservation cannot merely be about protected areas but also about larger landscapes where wildlife is conserved in unprotected areas with minimal damage to human livelihood or lives. Wildlife protection in such landscapes must be prioritised and given as much importance as protected areas. Since animals do not understand geo-political boundaries, we need to apply scientific enquiry to study their ecology. Areas outside these boundaries are also habitats for animal movement, local migration, dispersal and even breeding. We are using camera traps to track and to capture the wildlife that live and breed in this habitat. This is supplemented by appointing private watchers and researchers to prepare a scientific reports. It is of utmost importance that this area is kept relatively undisturbed and with minimum human interaction. We have identified a very prospective habitat near the villages of Mandalamari and Makkhalli in Yelburga Taluk adjoining the Kushtagi-Koppal State Highway NO 36, and have been collecting data, researching and scientifically surveying this area for the last 2 years. The survey and data studies have revealed an astonishing biodiversity and the presence of many critically endangered species. It includes the Indian Grey Wolf, Rusty Spotted Cat and the elusive Striped Hyena. Other endangered and rare species like the Asian Palm Civet, Small Indian Civet, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Indian Fox and even birds like the Rock Eagle Owl, Indian Thick-knee are using this micro-habitats as breeding grounds and are susceptible from human disturbances, conflicts and poaching including the practice of ritual hunting. It becomes imperative for conservationists and the forest department to deal with the challenging situation of managing wildlife outside protected areas where the interface with humans is higher and they are more vulnerable to population declines compared to inside protected areas. “ How can wildlife survive if they have no place to live and breed in safety ? ” An alpha male, Indian Grey Wolf moving in the denning area used for breeding Camera trap images, data and research of our biodiversity The Indian Leopard and Indian Grey Wolf share the same space, living and coexisting in harmony with each other in shrinking contested spaces. Striped Hyena and the Indian Jackals caught on camera traps placed near dens and regular routes, providing useful data for conservation policies and mapping potential areas and wildlife population survey in Koppal. Asian Palm Civets and the Small Indian Civet are predominantly nocturnal and camera traps record their movements and behavior of our on-going research and project studies in Koppal. The elusive Rusty Spotted Cat is captured on our camera traps where they are breeding. Monitor Lizards are the main victims of poachers. Porcupines and Jungle Cats use caves to rest, den and breed. Coexistence between humans and wildlife is the key to the survival of wildlife in non protected areas that make up most of India. Migratory birds that winter in the Deccan Northern Pintail and Bar headed Geese are few of many species that use flyways across the Himalayas to reach the Deccan plateau, travelling thousands of miles in this epic journey across continents. Demoiselle Cranes assemble in large flocks at waterbodies These winter visitors rest in water bodies and feed in ripening fields of pulses and grain. Shrinking wetlands are effecting the annual migration. A Desert Wheatear rests nears fields of ripening crop feeding on insects. A very rare sighting to be recorded so far south in the Deccan. Striped Hyenas and the Sloth Bears are victims of poaching and road kills The Deccan grasslands, rocky scrub jungles and riverine ecosystems have an amazing biodiversity of flora and fauna. This arid landscape is forgotten, neglected and called “wastelands”. This is where the original endemic species of wildlife of the Indian subcontinent are struggling to survive in an unsustainable fragmented human dominated landscape. Threatened, endangered and some critically endangered, we at Deccan Conservation Foundation are working closely with our rural population, as our strategic partners to preserve the remaining habitats and protect the surviving wildlife, that is the last bastion of many endangered species in Koppal district, Karnataka, India. Visit Deccan Conservation Foundation [email protected] Field office : Yeshwant Vihar, Hagedal P.O. Yelburga Taluk-583236 Koppal District, Karnataka, India Head Office : 282 4th Main, 1st Block, Koramangala, Bangalore - 560034 Karnataka, India Email : www.dcfindia.org.in Call : +91-9448455789 / +91-9449856476.