GREEN MINUTE NEWS:
It is celebration time for Bankapura Wolf Sanctuary with the birth of five more pups. Now in a span of two months, 13 wolf pups/whelps have been added to this sanctuary.
This is indeed good news for the Indian Gray Wolf species which is listed as endangered on the IUCN’s Red List. Further, it has been declared a Schedule-1 species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Presently, the number of Indian Gray wolves in this protected area has increased to about 40-45. Apart from this, cameras have been installed near the caves to study and survey this endangered species. Further, people have been cautioned not to disturb the newborn wolf pups.
The Indian Gray Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) is one of most endangered populations of grey wolves in the world.
Situated in Koppal district of Karnataka, India, Bankapura Wolf Sanctuary has been grabbing headlines with the increase in the cubs of the endangered Indian Gray Wolf in a protected area, said Forest, Ecology and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre.
The Karnataka Forest Department has taken the necessary steps for conservation of about 332 hectares of Bankapura Wolf Sanctuary in the Gangavathi regional sector, which is a safe haven for wildlife. In a statement, the Forest Minister further said that there was an increase in the offspring of wolves in this protected area.
In the month of January this year, a female wolf had given birth to 8 cubs in the same shrub forest, and now another wolf has given birth to five more cubs in February.
The Bankapura Wolf Sanctuary, which has natural caves and hills, has many other wildlife species such as leopard, peacock, fox, rabbit, hedgehog, etc. Presently, the Karnataka Forest Department is taking all steps and protective measures to prevent poaching and smuggling activities in this area.
(PHOTO CREDITS: SECOND IMAGE – INDRAJIT GHORPADE, FOUNDER, DECCAN CONSERVATION FOUNDATION, FIRST & THIRD IMAGES – KARNATAKA FOREST DEPARTMENT)