Abstract
The Himalayan Wolf Canis lupus L., a top predator of the Third Pole, is proposed to be of a distinct wolf lineage (C. himalayensis) relative to the Holarctic Grey Wolf as described by mtDNA analyses. A biodiversity survey organized by the Gaurishankar Conservation Area Project (GCAP) has captured images of wolves in three different regions, and the study team has observed wolf scats in five additional regions above the tree line in Rolwaling Valley. Further, interviews with local herders provided evidence of wolf depredation of livestock in the area. The Rolwaling Valley in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area was the study area which was divided into 12, 4 x 4 km (16 km2) grid cells, each supplied with one camera trap operated continuously from June to November 2019 (only 6 out of 12 cameras functioned for the duration of our study). Wolf detections were recorded by camera traps from Yalung Pass (4,956 m), Tsho-Rolpa glacial Lake (4,536 m) and the Dudhkunda ridgeline (5,091 m). The photo capture rate index (PCRI) for wolves was 0.71. Our study reports the first photographic evidence of the Himalayan Wolf in the Rolwaling Valley.
Highlights
The Himalayan Wolf Canis lupus is a top predator of the Third Pole (Prater 1971; Menon 2003; Chetri et al 2017; Boitani et al 2018; Werhahn et al 2020)
On the occurrence of the Himalayan Wolf Canis lupus, L. 1758 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Canidae) in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area, Nepal; its existence confirmed through sign and visual evidence in Rolwaling Valley
The areas that are considered main wolf habitat in Nepal include Manasalu and Annapurna Conservation Area (Chetri et al 2016, 2017, Subba et al 2017), Shey Phoksundo National Park and Humla district of western Nepal (Werhahn et al 2017; Subba et al 2017), Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (Jnawali et al 2011), and Kanchenjungha Conservation Area (Jnawali et al 2011; Subba et al 2017); and its existence has been confirmed in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area
Summary
The Himalayan Wolf Canis lupus is a top predator of the Third Pole (Prater 1971; Menon 2003; Chetri et al 2017; Boitani et al 2018; Werhahn et al 2020). The areas that are considered main wolf habitat in Nepal include Manasalu and Annapurna Conservation Area (Chetri et al 2016, 2017, Subba et al 2017), Shey Phoksundo National Park and Humla district of western Nepal (Werhahn et al 2017; Subba et al 2017), Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (Jnawali et al 2011), and Kanchenjungha Conservation Area (Jnawali et al 2011; Subba et al 2017); and its existence has been confirmed in the Gaurishankar Conservation Area (this study)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
