Indian Wolf Habitat in Chittorgarh's Scrublands

The rolling scrubland and grassland of Chittorgarh district outside the fort and forest zones is one of Rajasthan's remaining habitats for the Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), a smaller and more lightly built subspecies than the European wolf. Indian wolves live in small packs of 3-8 individuals and are primarily nocturnal hunters, preying on blackbuck, chinkara (Indian gazelle), hares, and ground-nesting birds. Livestock predation by wolves creates human-wolf conflict in areas where wild prey has declined due to agricultural expansion. Traditional pastoral communities in Chittorgarh regard wolf howling at night as a bad omen and have historically used stone enclosures (kothas) to protect sheep and goat herds from wolf attacks at night. The species is listed as endangered and receives protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Wolf population surveys using camera traps and scat analysis are conducted by the wildlife wing.