Indian Wolf Listed as Vulnerable – IUCN Red List 2025

The Indian Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) — one of the most elusive and ancient predators of the Indian subcontinent — has officially been listed as “Vulnerable” in its first-ever IUCN Red List assessment.

With only 2,877–3,310 mature individuals estimated to survive in the wild, this assessment marks a critical turning point for wolf conservation in India. The new status, categorized under Vulnerable (A2ae; C1), highlights both population decline and ongoing threats to the species’ survival.

Photographed by Rohit Kolhatkar

What Is the Indian Wolf?

The Indian Wolf, a subspecies of the Grey Wolf (Canis lupus), is native to the semi-arid grasslands and scrublands of India and Pakistan. Smaller and leaner than its European or Arctic cousins, it has adapted to survive in hot, open landscapes.

🔍 Key Characteristics

• Scientific Name: Canis lupus pallipes

• Common Name: Indian Wolf / Desert Wolf

• Distribution: Central, western, and southern India

• Habitat: Grasslands, scrub forests, semi-desert regions

• Diet: Small mammals, livestock, birds, and carrion

Unlike mountain or forest wolves, Indian wolves live in packs of 4–8 individuals, displaying remarkable hunting coordination in open terrains.

Evolutionary Significance

The Indian Wolf is not just another wolf — it’s one of the oldest lineages of Canis lupus on Earth. Genetic studies suggest it diverged from other wolf lineages around 200,000–400,000 years ago, long before the last Ice Age.

This makes it one of the most evolutionarily distinct wolf populations in the world, deserving urgent conservation attention.

Why Is the Indian Wolf Now “Vulnerable”?

According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the Indian Wolf population has been steadily declining due to:

🏠 1. Habitat Loss & Fragmentation

Expanding agriculture, urbanization, and infrastructure projects have drastically reduced India’s grasslands — the wolf’s primary habitat.

🐄 2. Conflict with Humans

As wolves prey on livestock, they face retaliatory killings and poisoning by herders.

🚗 3. Road Mortality

With shrinking habitats, wolves are increasingly forced to cross roads, leading to a rise in vehicle collisions.

🧬 4. Genetic Isolation

Fragmented populations reduce genetic exchange, weakening resilience and adaptability.

🦠 5. Disease & Competition

Canine diseases from feral dogs and competition for food further threaten survival.

The Numbers That Matter

• Estimated Population: 2,877–3,310 mature individuals

• IUCN Red List Category: Vulnerable (A2ae; C1)

• Population Trend: Declining

• Habitat Range: Central and southern India (Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telangana)

Conservation Challenges in India

India’s conservation policies have historically focused on charismatic megafauna like tigers and elephants, often overlooking open-plain species such as wolves and bustards.

However, the Indian Wolf is a keystone species — its presence maintains ecological balance by controlling herbivore and pest populations in grasslands.

Without protection of its habitat, India risks losing not just a species, but an entire grassland ecosystem that supports countless birds, reptiles, and mammals.

What Needs to Be Done

To prevent the Indian Wolf from slipping into further decline, the following steps are critical:

🔹 1. Recognize and Protect Grasslands

Grasslands must be legally recognized as ecosystems worthy of conservation, not as “wastelands.”

🔹 2. Community-Based Conservation

Empower local communities and herders through compensation schemes and awareness programs.

🔹 3. Strengthen Research & Monitoring

Nationwide surveys and radio-collaring programs can track wolf populations and behavior.

🔹 4. Reduce Human-Wildlife Conflict

Promote coexistence through non-lethal deterrents, improved livestock management, and education.

🔹 5. Genetic Conservation

Preserve the unique genetic identity of Canis lupus pallipes through scientific breeding and habitat connectivity.

The Call to Action

The new IUCN assessment is more than a conservation milestone — it’s a warning sign. With fewer than 3,300 wolves left, the Indian Wolf now faces an uncertain future.

Conservation organizations, researchers, and citizens must work together to protect grasslands, reduce conflict, and restore the habitats these wolves depend on.

Every step taken today ensures that the haunting howl of the Indian Wolf will continue to echo across the plains of India. 

Conclusion: 

The Indian Wolf has roamed the subcontinent for hundreds of thousands of years, adapting to the harshest conditions. Yet, in just a few decades, human expansion has pushed it to the edge.

The “Vulnerable” status is both a wake-up call and an opportunity — to act, protect, and coexist.
If India can rally for its tigers, it can surely save its wolves — the silent guardians of its grasslands.