A recent survey of the wolf population in Gujarat, conducted in 2023, estimates approximately 222 wolves across 13 districts. The survey revealed Bhavnagar district as the area with the highest count, recording 80 wolves.
The survey was part of a wider effort to assess and protect wolf habitats in the state, led by the Gujarat Forest Department in collaboration with the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation.
As part of this initiative, the GEER Foundation developed the Atlas of Indian Wolf Habitats in the state, which was launched on December 25. The atlas, prepared using remote sensing and GIS technologies, identifies suitable habitats for wolves and spans 2,217.66 square kilometres across the 13 surveyed districts.
It includes maps of wolf presence and distribution, highlighting key corridors necessary for the movement and genetic diversity of the species.
Other significant findings included 39 wolves in Narmada, 36 in Banaskantha and 18 in Surendranagar. Wolves were also found in Jamnagar, Morbi and Kutch, with additional presence noted in districts such as Porbandar, Mehsana, Navsari, Patan, Aravalli and Surat.
Wolves in Gujarat are primarily found in forested and desert regions, particularly in areas with shelter and tree cover. The atlas identified open scrublands and grasslands with accessible water sources as optimal habitats for the Indian wolf.
Notable regions for wolf habitation include the deserts of Kutch, the Bhal region, Velavadar National Park and the areas surrounding Dholera. The Shulpaneshwar Sanctuary in Narmada district has also been identified as a key wolf habitat.
The information collected will guide future conservation strategies and habitat management, ensuring the protection of not only wolves but also other wildlife that shares their habitats.
The Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), recognised for its intelligence, is typically found in groups, known as packs, that consist of 6 to 15 members.
Their presence in Gujarat, particularly in controlling blackbuck populations, highlights their importance to the region’s environmental stability.
The creation of the wolf habitat atlas is a significant step in the state’s ongoing conservation efforts, providing crucial data to guide the protection of the Indian wolf, a species crucial to the state’s ecological health.
Also Read: Delhi LG Criticises Kejriwal’s ‘Temporary CM’ Remarks in Letter to Atishi
