Hubballi: Researchers from the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) have made a groundbreaking discovery by documenting the presence of wolf-dog hybrids in the grasslands of Karnataka for the first time. This finding has sparked concerns among conservationists, with one researcher warning of “unimaginable consequences in the future.”

Wolf-dogs are hybrids that occur when free-ranging dogs breed with the Indian grey wolf, a top predator in grassland ecosystems. Although it was long speculated that interactions between free-ranging dogs and wild canids were possible, the recent findings, published in the August edition of the BNHS journal, have heightened anxiety about the potential threats to the endangered wolf population.

The BNHS research team, including Pankaj Bishnoi, Neelkanth Bora, Karthik N J, and Sujit S Narwade, first recorded the presence of a wolf-dog hybrid on October 12, 2023, near Gajendragad in Gadag district, with a subsequent sighting on December 24, 2023. The journal attributes the increasing interactions between wildlife and domestic animals to the reduction of wildlife habitats. These encounters can lead to gene exchange, which may disrupt ecological balance, potentially resulting in disease spread and changes in behavior that threaten wildlife populations.

The publication describes the wolf-dog hybrid as displaying unique characteristics, including a leaner body and distinct eye shape compared to typical free-ranging dogs. BNHS Deputy Director Narwade emphasized the need for further study, as no DNA analysis has yet been conducted. He noted that instances of wolf-dog hybrids in India, including recent reports near Pune, are often underreported.

Indrajit Ghorpade, founder of the Deccan Conservation Foundation, has been tracking wolf-dog and jackal-dog hybrids since 2018-19 in Koppal. Narwade warned that hybridization could result in more aggressive behavior and altered hunting practices among the hybrids, affecting the genetic integrity of the wolf population. BNHS plans to present their findings to the Karnataka Forest Department for further investigation. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Subhash Malkhede stated he was unaware of the presence of wolf-dogs in Karnataka and is looking forward to reviewing the BNHS report.

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