Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758 – Grey Wolf

Indian Population of Gray wolf (without accounting for its dubious status as a separate species) is 'Endangered' according to some taxonomists and wildlife scientists. But there is no appropriate IUCN assessment of threat status this species' Indian population. Gray Wolf inhabits grasslands and scrublands which are often treated as wasteland. Such areas are highly vulnerable to destruction owing to industrial use and agricultural expansion. Wolf is also often found predating domestic sheep and goat, which brings up on another threat of retaliatory killing, trapping, and poisoning. Wolf pups are also killed at times by smoking and burning their dens to avoid any future threat to livestock. These all threats have contributed to decrease in its population and fragmentation.