Himalayan Wolf (Canis lupus chanco), a prominent lupine predator found across the Himalayas has been assessed for the first time in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List.
Key Facts About Himalayan Wolf
- The Himalayan Wolf is a mysterious lupine predator that inhabits the high elevations of the Himalayas.
- Characterized by distinctive genetic markers, its mitochondrial DNA suggests a genetic foundation predating the Holarctic grey wolf.
- It is found in parts of China, Nepal, India, and Bhutan and typically lives in alpine meadows and grasslands at elevations of 10,000 to 18,000 feet.
- They usually travel in small packs and hunt wild sheep and goats, sometimes even preying on marmots, hares, and birds.
- Population estimate of 2,275-3,792 mature individuals, all within a subpopulation across the Himalayan range of Nepal, India, and the Tibetan Plateau.
- Indian section has 227-378 mature individuals, primarily in Ladakh and Spiti Valley.
- IUCN Status: Vulnerable
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
IUCN Red List
- The IUCN Red List is the foremost global resource for assessing the risk of extinction among animals, fungi, and plant species.
- Accessible to all, it serves as a crucial indicator of global biodiversity health, it offers comprehensive insights into species’ characteristics, threats, and conservation measures, playing a pivotal role in shaping informed conservation decisions and policies.
- The IUCN Red List Categories define the extinction risk of species assessed. Nine categories extend from NE (Not Evaluated) to EX (Extinct). Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN) and Vulnerable (VU) species are considered to be threatened with extinction.
- It is also a key indicator for the Sustainable Development Goals and Aichi Targets.
- The IUCN Red List includes the IUCN Green Status of Species, which assesses the recovery of species’ populations and measures their conservation success.
- There are eight Green Status Categories: Extinct in the Wild, Critically Depleted, Largely Depleted, Moderately Depleted, Slightly Depleted, Fully Recovered, Non-Depleted and Indeterminate.
- A Green Status assessment examines how conservation actions have affected the current Red List status.