Origin, ecology and human conflict of gray wolf (Canis lupus) in Suleman Range, South Waziristan, Pakistan

Abstract

Abstract The gray wolf (Canis lupus; Linnaeus, 1758) is one of the most widespread terrestrial species and occurs in a variety of habitats. While well studied in North America and Europe, wolf populations in Asia are among the most evolutionarily distinct, endangered and data deficient. The Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) is a subspecies of gray wolf that ranges from Southwest Asia to the Indian Subcontinent. Despite being categorized as “Endangered” in Pakistan, data on the gray wolf’s status, ecology and distribution are poorly understood. The current study investigates its genetic distinctiveness, distribution, feeding ecology and wolf livestock conflict in the Suleman Range, South Waziristan, Pakistan. We confirmed that the gray wolf is present in South Waziristan and is genetically similar to the wolves of Iran and Saudi Arabia based on their mtDNA D-loop haplotypes. The gray wolf was recorded at eight different sampling sites in the study area with elevational range between 1642 m to 2688 m. We estimated a population of 15 wolves, with a density of 0.62 individuals/km2 area surveyed. An analysis on scats revealed 52% contribution from livestock (with goats and sheep being the preferred prey) and 48% from wild prey. Biomass consumption showed gray wolf relied heavily on domestic prey (88%) during the summer season, resulting in human conflict with 28 wolves killed in response to livestock depredation during 2016–2017, requiring immediate conservation measures to save its remaining population.