Abstract
The woolly wolf Canis lupus chanco is increasingly being accepted as a unique taxon that needs immediate protection and management; however, information on its ecology remains limited across its range. We used camera trapping data set of 4 years (2015–2019) to investigate seasonal activity patterns and space use and assessed woolly wolf food habits in the Gangotri National Park, western Himalaya, India. We used generalized linear mixed models to assess the distribution of the wolf about prey, seasonal livestock grazing, human presence, habitat, and seasons. We observed a positive association with elevation and a negative response to an increase in ruggedness. The capture of wolves increased in winters, indicating a possible effect of snow on the ranging pattern. Spatial avoidance to anthropogenic pressure was not evident in our study; however, temporal avoidance was observed. The activity pattern of the wolf varied among seasons. Wolves were mostly active in the morning and late evening hours in summer and showed a diurnal activity pattern in winter. A less diverse diet was observed where the mean percentage frequency of occurrence and relative biomass was highest for bharal, followed by livestock. Himalayan marmot Marmota himalayana, birds, and rodents also form minor constituents to the diet. Synthesizing all three factors (space, diet, and activity), it may be stated that the wolf presence in the region is influenced by both wild prey availability and seasonality. Therefore, conservation of woolly wolves would require securing a vast landscape with optimal wild prey.
Highlights
The status of large carnivores is declining across the globe (Ripple et al, 2014), with a negative impact on the structure and functioning of ecosystems (Estes et al, 2011)
We examined the space use and diet of the Woolly wolves in Gangotri National Park, Uttarakhand state in the western Himalayan region, to evaluate the relative influence of abiotic and biotic factors on their spatial ecology
Galliformes species reported in the Nelang valley include Himalayan snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis), chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar), Tibetan snowcock (Tetraogallus tibetanus), and Tibetan sandgrouse (Syrrhaptes tibetanus)
Summary
The status of large carnivores is declining across the globe (Ripple et al, 2014), with a negative impact on the structure and functioning of ecosystems (Estes et al, 2011). In the case of the woolly wolf, relationships between space use and other aspects of landscape pattern, such as how they respond to changes in habitat conditions caused by the seasonal presence of snow and grazing practices, have not been well studied. We examined the space use and diet of the Woolly wolves in Gangotri National Park, Uttarakhand state in the western Himalayan region, to evaluate the relative influence of abiotic (topography and season) and biotic (prey and anthropogenic pressure) factors on their spatial ecology. We expected to see high seasonality in wolf space use due to the absence of humans and livestock and the presence of snow cover in the winter Such seasonal disturbance and changes in temperature are expected to influence the activity patterns of the species (Nielsen, 1984; Patterson et al, 1999). The study contributes vital information on less studied woolly wolf distribution and resource use for designing effective land sharing and conservation planning in the Gangotri landscape
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