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?
Can we not do it for the grasslands themselves?
Our grasslands are often undervalued, considered wastelands, and 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 on the agricultural fields.
Their habitats (now a few patches of grassland amongst agricultural fields) do not have strong protection, they are regularly in conflict with humans(farmers and 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 on the outskirts.
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 and attention that the Tigers enjoy. Again, charisma?
If conservation happens by charisma then we are all doomed. An earthworm doesn't have charisma, but if they are gone, our time on this planet will be limited.
To my disappointment, I only found Wolves in the Millet, Pomegranate and Sunflower fields of Bhigwan.
A grassland differs from a forest as it is primarily made up of thorny shrubs and various grass species. Frequently, these grasslands are transformed into woodlands through tree planting, often with the intention of enhancing their value and protection. This approach is misguided, as it fails to acknowledge grasslands as a self-sustaining ecosystem.
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.
Agriculture poses a significant encroachment on the habitat of wolves. The Deccan regions of India experience hot and arid summers, but irrigation transforms these areas into cooler, greener environments. As a result, wolves often seek refuge in these farms to escape the midday heat.
When on the farms, the wolves are just being themselves, playing around in the fields, trampling over the crop, and chewing on irrigation pipes. Crop damage is something the farmers will not tolerate and they try fencing off the fields to keep them away. But Wolves are smart animals and they dig beneath the fence and create passages for them.
When fences fail, feral dogs come to the rescue. Farmers frequently keep shepherd dogs that work together to drive wolves back into the grasslands.
To keep the wolves inside the protected spaces and prevent them from going into the human-dominated areas, the forest department has created man-made waterholes for the wolves to drink from during the summer. This strategy has worked for Tigers and is definitely going to help wolves too.
Despite all the above odds, if the Wolf has managed to survive in these landscapes, it is purely because of the intelligence of this animal.
The farmers who co-exist with these animals are willing to co-operate provided the wolves don't enter their spaces.
Achieving balance in this human-animal relationship is crucial, and it falls to the forest department staff to maintain this peace.
After all, Wolves are some of the most resilient of all animals and with just a little bit more protection and dedicated efforts, their populations can do much better in the future.
India has achieved remarkable success in revitalizing Tiger populations, and I believe a similar success story is possible for Wolves. All it takes is strong determination
SAVE THE WOLVES !!
