Hey there, inquisitive reader! Guess what? Some super cool citizen scientists helped discover something amazing in Pune, India. They found the very first ‘wolf-dog’ hybrid in the country.

It’s like a mix between a wolf and a dog. But hold on, it’s not good news for the Indian wolf population. Let us tell you why!

Important Details

• These citizen scientists are from an organization called The Grassland Trust, and they worked together with researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bengaluru. They started a project last year to find wolf-dogs in peninsular India.
• In a journal called Ecology and Evolution, the researchers published their findings. They explained that as people keep expanding their habitats, wildlife habitats get broken up into smaller pieces. This means animals from the wild and animals that people have as pets or farm animals come into contact more often. And that’s where the trouble starts!
• The scientists discovered that when dogs and wolves mix, it can be dangerous for the wild wolf population. It messes up the way wolf packs work and leads to even more mixing between dogs and wolves. These hybrids are not like other animals because they can still have babies. And those babies will keep mixing with both dogs and wolves, which is a big problem.
• The Indian Grey Wolf, also known as bhediya or landga, is already in trouble. They are considered endangered, and there were only around 40 wolves in Pune according to the last count. In the whole peninsular India, there were about 3,100 wolves. With wolf-dog hybrids appearing, it becomes even more difficult for the Indian Grey Wolf to survive and thrive.
• It’s clear that the expansion of human habitats and the mixing of domestic and wild animals can cause serious problems for wildlife. That’s why it’s important to understand these interactions and take steps to protect endangered species like the Indian Grey Wolf. The research done by these citizen scientists and researchers helps us learn more about these issues and find ways to conserve our precious wildlife.
• Isn’t it amazing how everyday people like you and me can make a real difference in science? So, keep exploring and observing the world around you because you never know what incredible discoveries you might make!

Similar Stories

• Endangered Wolves Get Adorable New Family!

Watch a video

What makes wolfdogs superior to domestic dogs, if any?