📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Hari Mohan Meena
Science
85% of Rajasthan’s Wolves Reside Outside Sanctuaries, Living Near Villages
✍️ News18
🗓 06 Nov 2026, 06:39 PM
👁 20
A recent survey reveals that most wolves in Rajasthan are found outside protected areas, often close to human habitations.
A wildlife survey released this week indicates that about 85 per cent of the wolf population in Rajasthan lives beyond the boundaries of designated sanctuaries. The data, compiled by state forest officials and cited by News18, shows that these animals are frequently spotted in the buffer zones surrounding villages.
Researchers attribute the pattern to the shrinking of natural prey bases inside protected areas and the adaptability of wolves to agricultural landscapes. While the presence of wolves near settlements can help control stray livestock predators, it also raises the risk of occasional livestock depredation and human‑wolf encounters.
State authorities are now evaluating mitigation measures, including community‑based monitoring and compensation schemes, to reduce potential conflict while preserving the species. The findings underscore the need for integrated wildlife management that extends beyond sanctuary fences.
The report calls for increased awareness among villagers about coexistence strategies and highlights the importance of maintaining ecological corridors that link fragmented habitats across the arid region.
Researchers attribute the pattern to the shrinking of natural prey bases inside protected areas and the adaptability of wolves to agricultural landscapes. While the presence of wolves near settlements can help control stray livestock predators, it also raises the risk of occasional livestock depredation and human‑wolf encounters.
State authorities are now evaluating mitigation measures, including community‑based monitoring and compensation schemes, to reduce potential conflict while preserving the species. The findings underscore the need for integrated wildlife management that extends beyond sanctuary fences.
The report calls for increased awareness among villagers about coexistence strategies and highlights the importance of maintaining ecological corridors that link fragmented habitats across the arid region.