Endangered Wolves’ Species Found in Telengana

Telangana State, it appears, is attracting more and more rare bird species and other wildlife to its forests. Wildlife photographer Kyatham Santhosh Kumar reported the spotting of Indian Gray Wolves, an endangered species, on the banks of river Godavari in Nizamabad district on Saturday, just a day before Forest Range Officer Satla Venugopal spotted the rare Rufous-Bellied Eagle in Kagaznagar forest division.

Always on the lookout for an opportunity for wildlife shoot, Kumar found four Indian Gray Wolves on the banks of the river and clicked away some picture since they have never been spotted in Telangana State. Later, he consulted some zoologists and experts to establish the identity of the endangered species which is mostly found in North Indian States like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan besides Gujarat, Wwest Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Their population has dwindled down to about 2,000-plus now.

With the government making concerted efforts top increase afforestation across the State substantially through its flagship green drive programme Haritha Haram, coupled with the availability of water in plenty following the completion of several irrigation projects like Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme, Telangana State is fast emerging as a place where flora and fauna could thrive, say experts.

According to Kumar, wild animals have been entering Nizamabad district since there was sufficient water in Sri Ram Sagar Project, and there are enough lands for grazing in mandals like Nandipet besides availability of prey for the carnivores.

Indian Gray Wolf or “Canis lupus Pallipes’ were first spotted in India by British ornithologist Colonel William Henry Sykes in 1931, he said, adding that these wolves are carnivores and prey on antelopes, hares and rodents. He called upon the Forest department officials to initiate measures to protect these wolves that have entered Telangana State for the first time. Efforts should also be made to increase their population, he added.

Source: Telengana Today

Image Courtesy: Vajiramias