Indian Park Littered with Newborn Wolf Pups Marking Steady Population Growth for Endangered Subspecies

February 17, 2025 journo

The newborn pups near their den in Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary – credit Karnataka Forest Department, released.

In one of India’s few wildlife sanctuaries for gray wolves, a litter of 8 pups has inspired the conservation community working to protect one of the most endangered wolf subspecies.

Located in the sub-continent’s southern state of Karnataka, the Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary is home to many wildlife species, including leopards, peacocks, blackbucks, and porcupines, but it’s the Indian wolf, a small, shorthaired, subspecies, that’s the main attraction.

One of the older lineages of wolves, and genetically distinct from the yet older Himalayan wolf, around 3,000 Indian wolves remain in the country, with smaller isolated populations found in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Protected in the country since 1972, they can be found in a variety of states in the north, south, and central regions of India, in several terrain types from deserts to hills and forests.

Bankapur is merely the second nature reserve dedicated to these animals, and announcing the news of the 8 pups born in the exceedingly small reserve, Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre said credit should be given to Forest Department officials who ensured they were at ease and protected.

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“The sanctuary hosts the Indian grey wolf species, and one of the wolves recently gave birth to eight pups. Typically, only 50% of the wolf pups survive, but forest officials have taken measures to ensure the safety of all the pups,” Mr. Khandre said. “The Bankapur Wolf Sanctuary now has around 35-40 wolves including the new board pups.”

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