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Terrestrial Wild Animals
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Carnivorous and Omnivores Animals, Excluding Felids
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Canids (Canidae) & Hyaenids (Hyaenidae)
Wolf (Canis lupus)
Wolf (Canis lupus)
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Wolf (Canis lupus)
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 (02-10-2019, 06:59 AM)Rishi Wrote: GPS Tracking Shows How Much Wolf Packs Avoid Each Other’s Range I checked a little bit, I found information about territories of wolves here from 2014-2017. It was quite different here, there was clear space between territories of packs. Interesting to see how different situation can be compared to that in this national park :) But then again what comes to wolves and bears, whole Finland is like a national park, because they are protected by law and it is forbidden to kill them without a permission from officials, and that permission is far from easy to get. (02-10-2019, 07:28 AM)Shadow Wrote:(02-10-2019, 06:59 AM)Rishi Wrote: GPS Tracking Shows How Much Wolf Packs Avoid Each Other’s Range Good, now that's what I call law enforcement!   *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author According to the text: "first tree wolves are old or sick, they determine the speed of all pack, if they stay in the tail of the pack they couldn't keep the pace and could perish; after them 5 strong animals, in the centre - all other members of the pack; the last is Alpha male, before him 5 strongest wolves":  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
Wolves mark their territory over Koppal’s landscape
*This image is copyright of its original author Study by Wildlife Conservation Society and "Deccan" Conservation Foundation shows predator (WOLF) is present in 86% of dist.  *This image is copyright of its original author Surviving in isolated rocky outcrops and in channels that criss-cross the landscape of black soil, wolves and striped hyenas are making their presence felt in Koppal district of Karnataka (South Indian State). Wolves, for instance, were detected in 86% of the district’s landscape, while the rare striped hyena was found in 23% of the district, shows a two-year-long study by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and Deccan Conservation Foundation (DCF), which concluded in December 2018. Quote:Large carnivores have a considerable imprint in the district, with leopards and sloth bears found in 15% of the area, shows the study. The findings can indeed push the neglected district into finding a place for itself in the Forest Department’s plans. Currently, Koppal district has neither a terrestrial protected area (sanctuaries or reserves) nor a forest/wildlife management plan. “In some ways, the extent of wolf distribution is not surprising. Each wolf can have a territory of more than 200 sq km. While other species are confined to rocky areas, wolves are everywhere. Koppal is a good habitat for wolves,” says Iravatee Majgaonkar from the WCS, who helmed the study. Getting absolute numbers is tricky, considering that wolves are elusive, and there are no differentiating marks to keep a count on their population. In 2005, researchers from Mysuru University estimated there were just 555 wolves in Karnataka, with around 25 in Koppal. However, Ms. Majgaonkar says their numbers may be considerably higher. Quote:“In the past century, the wolf population has definitely plummeted due to hunting and their declaration as vermin during the colonial rule. In the past few decades though, in Koppal at least, numbers are steady,” she says. To determine the distribution, WCS divided the district into 25-sq km grids, and visited alternative grids, while over 600 shepherds were interviewed to confirm sightings. The team also placed camera traps at three rocky outcrops, capturing wolves, hyenas, rusty spotted cat, jackals, foxes, and others there. Herbivores are a concern While the large carnivores are making a sort of comeback, with no protection from poaching or habitat loss their prey have virtually disappeared. Chinkaras and Nilgai, which used to be found in the area, have disappeared. Wild pigs (boars) are found in just 53% of the area, but their numbers are a concern. Similarly, blackbucks, which thrive in the black cotton plains, are found in just 19% of the area. “The predator-prey ratio is a real concern. We didn’t know it would be so disproportionate. There has to be a mechanism to revive the herbivore population — by protecting blackbucks or translocation of wild pigs. This would lower the livestock losses for shepherds too,” says Indrajit Ghorpade, founder of DCF. -------------- Shepherds’ tolerance In the land of shepherds, the wolves of Koppal are intertwined in cultural lore. The study on wolves in Koppal shows shepherds in the district as having a high tolerance to livestock losses due to wolves. This tolerance may be linked to the traditional shepherd community, Kurubas, who believe that wolves keep their flock fit by preying on the weak and diseased  .Quote:“Even if villagers lose a few sheep to a wolf pack, they just shrug it off. They truly believe the presence of wolves keeps their sheep vigilant and active. And so, much fitter,” says Vinay Shankar, project manager, Deccan Conservation Foundation (DCF).The team from Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), which helmed the study, tracked groups of shepherds over six months, and interviewed 110 of them. Just 34 shepherds, or 31% of the shepherd population - reported losses in livestock. Of the 115 sheep or goats reported dead in this period, just 15 were by wolves, the rest through diseases. However, in terms of compensation, just six cases of wolf-related sheep deaths were claimed in 10 years. What helps maintain the cultural tolerance, unlike other areas where man-animal conflict is on the rise, is the vast numbers of livestock there. The study notes that for one wolf pack in a territory of 200 sq km, even if they feed on livestock every three days, each shepherd may lose just on an average one sheep every three years. “Koppal is blessed to have this sort of cultural belief. But in the long term, this could be a cause for concern. People’s aspirations are changing and they could become less and less accepting of livestock losses. There will be a threshold,” says Iravatee Majgaonkar from WCS. She, however, believes that the system of compensation for losses, which is not followed by the nomadic communities, must not be encouraged in the area. “This may backfire on the wolves. After a point, people will associate the animal with money and there may be low tolerance towards losses. The cultural association with the wolf may be broken as people will start looking at the canid as a ‘species of the state’ rather than belonging to the landscape,” she says. Conservation reserves as a solution Quote:The study finds that for wolves and striped hyenas, these rocky outcrops were used during their breeding period and to protect their young. However, these sites have seen rampant poaching, quarrying, mono-cropping, and tree felling. “What we need in the district are micro-habitats of community reserves. If poaching or mining is stopped here, the wolf population will come up,” says Indrajit Ghorpade, founder of DCF. The DCF has proposed to the Forest Department to declare Mandalmari outcrop, covering 150 acres, as one such area. Similarly, Twallahalla - “steam of wolves” in Kannada as the dense bushes there provide shelter to wolves. Quote:At least 15 wolves in two packs have been camera-trapped there. The scrub jungles of Bankapura, which is a habitat for leopards and sloth bears, are also on their wish list. The protection of the rocky patches will be an important refuge for the creatures as there is a chance the plains will change once irrigation and other agricultural practices are introduced, says Iravatee Majgaonkar from WCS. “What is important is for a programme that includes villagers in conservation. By just declaring reserves, there is a risk of alienating villagers from the land,” she said. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/k...WFAJ1CGGrU
Nice video where wolves are protecting cubs by harassing a black bear until it leaves.
 When a pack of wolves sense something wrong with a bull, they leave the healthier ones behind to chase it instead.
I watched that video, amazing how animals can sense things we somehow can't sense.
This morning here in Finland and Helsinki. More closely Tammisalo in Helsinki if someone wants to look at that area. Lone wolf, most probably young male wolf which has abandoned the pack and looking around to find a female for mating and to find then own territory to reproduce etc. Again newspaper article with video, so hopefully video is functional for all.
https://www.iltalehti.fi/kotimaa/a/0b163...efb20ae8f3
Another wolf and bear interaction, landscapes looked so familiar in this wolf vs. bear series from Smithsonian channel, that I had to look closer.
Here is part of description: "NEW YORK - February 27, 2019 - Smithsonian Channel's new special WOLF VS. BEAR brings two archenemies together in a fight for food and survival. Shot over the course of a full year across the far northern wild of Norway, Finland and Russia, this one-hour special follows the tracks of two of nature's most formidable predators and shows what makes both creatures optimal predatory machines, albeit with remarkably different strategies. Read more at http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/...Wtf8Mrr.99" 
This article is roughly a year old but really puts into perspective predators such as wolves and bears impact the people of Estonia.
Predators cause record damage While the previous year’s damages caused by large predators are usually calculated and paid out in the first three months of the year, that is not the case this year. There were so many applications from sheep farmers and beekeepers that the Environmental Board took until May to tally up the costs. Most farmers who suffered damages have been compensated by today. A record-breaking €250,000 was paid out to injured parties. The largest single compensation sum was €10,000 while most were around a few hundred euros. Wolves caused the most trouble last year, killing 1,121 sheep which is almost twice the figure for 2013. Hungry wolves also killed 27 goats, 10 bovine animals, two dogs, and a pony. A third of all sheep killed were from just three herds in Rapla County and Saaremaa. Brown bears ransacked a total of 323 beehives in 2017 in addition to killing a few cows and sheep and destroying over 500 rolls of silage. Damages caused by Estonia’s relatively few lynxes were much more modest. These are the figures at the board’s disposal as farmers might not report some damages. Wolves as frequent visitors Sheep farmer Tarmo Lohv from the Rae rural municipality in Harju County has lost over 70 sheep to wolves in the past eight years. The farmer lost 19 sheep last year and was paid a few thousand euros in damages. Hunters shot the wolf that was attacking Lohv’s herds in the winter and things have been quiet in the village of Salu since then. Tiit Kaivo, who lives a 30-minute drive away from Lohv in the village of Harmi in Kose rural municipality, is also having trouble with the animals. The master of Sireli Farm is initially reluctant to even talk about the damage wolves have caused. “It is not exactly fun thinking back to those times. Rather it is something you’d want to forget,” he said. Kaivo eventually said that there have been days where he lost a few dozen animals in the last few years. In 2016, wolves slaughtered all the main herd’s rams just 50 meters from home. Last year was better as wolves only killed four sheep. “How it works is that I can usually see crows and ravens circling above the herd when I go check on them in the morning. Then I know someone has been slaughtered,” the farmer said. He added that he has seen wolves in the area on four occasions. Kaivo has even seen a wolf kill one of his sheep. The animal had herded the sheep into a close group and was running circles around them. It then picked out the animal it wanted, snatched the lamb, and ran a short way to where its fellows were waiting.“It is said that the wolf is the corpsman of the woods. But why in the hell should it eat mangy and sickly animals when it can feast on healthy ones? They have been slaughtering healthy and well-fed animals,” said the man who has been a sheep farmer for over 30 years. Because wolves make the lives of sheep farmers very difficult, Kaivo is not convinced the predator makes the best national animal for Estonia. “Could you imagine our national occupation be that of a bank robber?” he asked. Compensation for a guard dog The Environmental Board pays farmers compensation to have them tolerate wolves and bears. Harju County farmers Kaivo and Lohv said the compensation is a great help. Predators are poached and poisoned in some European countries that do not have compensation. There is a lot of illegal hunting in Italy and Spain for example. Nature conservation specialist with the board Tõnu Talvi, who tallied up the cost of the damages caused by large predators, said that wild animals attempt to hunt with minimal effort. This means that going after people’s property needs to be made as difficult as possible for them. The agency also compensates farmers for some expenses tied to preventing damages caused by predators. The board compensated half of prevention expenses to 59 farmers and beekeepers for a total of €69,649 euros. Compensation also covers part of costs to buy guard dogs. If prevention is not enough to keep predators away, damages caused by wolves, brown bears, and lynxes will be compensated. Damages caused by large predators will be compensated in full, with the injured party expected to cover €46-128 of annual damages https://news.postimees.ee/4493793/predat...ord-damage
Velavadar NP, Guj. (Lions are coming here)
 *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Amit Velavadar Velavadar King with Blackbuck  *This image is copyright of its original author Scavenging Ashwin  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author Amit Velavadar (Click to play) Feeding in a hierarchical order.  *This image is copyright of its original author Ashish Malhotra  *This image is copyright of its original author Amit Velavadar  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
(01-08-2019, 05:54 PM)Rage2277 Wrote: How's that even possible !! Nearest wolf distribution is in northern odisha and jharkhand area ... How they made into west Bengal and even deeper into mangroves ? IUCN need to update this data into their site. Infact, besides leopards at third place and hyena at 1st place. wolf are 2nd carnivores who are increasing in numbers by conquering their lost ranges. The study found that leopards occupied 57%, wolves 64% and hyenas 75% of the landscapes outside protected areas. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city...o&from=mdr In fact in our district of sklm (eastern ghats) where forests are almost exhausted, a hyena is seen in sugar factory out of nowhere in the center of the town. @Rishi How supportive is west Bengal to wolves ? |
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