Himalayan Wolf

• Context (DTE): IUCN conducted the first-ever assessment of Himalayan Wolf.
• The Himalayan Wolf is a prominent lupine predator found across the Himalayas.
• It is thought to be the ancestor of the domestic dog.
• They are genetically distinct from grey wolves.

Habitat

• They can be found living in Ladakh in the Himalayas, the Tibetan Plateau, and the mountains of Central Asia predominantly above 4,000 m (13,000 ft) in elevation.
• Living at such high altitudes, these wolves have genetically adapted themselves to live in low oxygen (hypoxic) conditions.
• They generally avoid dense forests and deep snow zones.

Physical description

• Himalayan wolves are light tan in color and have grey shades on their body.
• Some wolves of this species have white or black shades around the face or along the chest.
• It is larger than the Indian and common European wolves.

Diet

• This carnivore preys upon larger mammals to rodents, birds or even crabs etc.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Status: Vulnerable | CITES: Appendix I | WPA, 1972: Schedule I
• Threats: Habitat modification, illegal hunting, etc.