Cry of the Wolf
One of the objectives presented for re-introducing the Cheetah in India was "To use the cheetah as a charismatic flagship and umbrella species to garner resources for restoring open forest and savanna systems".
What it means is that we need to import a charismatic species to save our grasslands. Are we not willing to do it for our own native wildlife?
While this plan has been on the papers for more than a decade, our grasslands face continuous degradation due to a lack of necessary Protection, poor management, and of course, human intrusions.
One animal that is a victim of this degradation is the Indian Grey Wolf. Wolves have been crying for attention all across the country as their last remaining habitats continue to shrink.
From all I saw in Bhigwan in Maharashtra, the Wolf is one animal that has shifted from living in its native habitat of grasslands and scrublands to living amongst humans in the agricultural fields.
Their habitats (a few patches of grassland amongst agricultural fields) do not have much protection, they are regularly in conflict with humans(shepherds) on the fields and also face severe health risks from eating carrion, and interactions with feral dogs.
Perhaps, it doesn’t have the necessary charisma to be protected?
The Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) is a subspecies of the grey wolf that ranges from Southwest Asia to the Indian Subcontinent. They are well-built with long legs and strong shoulders. They live in packs of 6-8 individuals and hunt down hares, rodents, and their once major prey animal – the Blackbuck. Cattle grazing in the grasslands has had an adverse impact on Blackbuck populations and I couldn’t find a single blackbuck in the grasslands. The Wolves here regularly feed on cattle carcasses that are dumped by villagers in and around the grasslands.
Wolf population estimates put the figure to around 3000 individuals across the country with significant populations in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
That is as endangered as the Tiger in India but they do not even get half the protection that the Tigers enjoy.
To my disappointment, I only found Wolves in the Millet, Pomegranate and Sunflower fields of Bhigwan.
Saving our Grasslands also requires an adequate plan and management. It is important to remove invasive and non-native flora and allow the grass to flourish. When left unmanaged, aggressive weeds such as parthenium take over the landscape and prevent the growth of native grass.
These grasslands are also home to some very unique bird life such as Quails and Sandgrouse that one cannot find elsewhere. With the Wolf as the umbrella species, several others will benefit from conserving these habitats.
The Cheetah may or may not be a success story in India, but what is required is immediate action to save the last remaining strongholds of the Indian Wolf. We need methods to create protected areas that are inclusive of Agricultural and pastoral fields. Why is it so difficult when we have whole villages sitting inside Tiger reserves?
Terming patchy grasslands as Protected areas and strict enforcement will also help prevent further intrusions and conserve whatever little remains of grasslands. There also needs to be a solid plan to prevent cattle overgrazing and help blackbuck populations bounce back.
After all, Wolves are some of the most resilient of all animals and with just a little bit of protection, their populations can definitely do much better.