Hi all!
I am Malaika, a field biologist based in Chotila, Saurashtra, Gujarat. I work at Sahjeevan— an organization dedicated to the conservation of open natural ecosystems alongside strengthening pastoralism in the region.
I would like to update you about our community-led wolf conservation efforts in the Surendranagar district of Gujarat.
First, a little history: We have been working in Gugaliyana village, Thangadh, Surendranagar for the past four years. Initially, we worked with sheep and goat pastoralists on livestock healthcare, wool shearing and organising and advocating through the Surendranagar Gheta Bakra Ucherak Maldhari Sangathan (SGBUMS). In 2023, through the JI Thaker fellowship, we began working on understanding the biodiversity of Gugaliyana village and associated traditional ecological knowledge. This eventually led us to carry out a camera trapping study in Gugaliyana Reserved Forest to understand the distribution of the Indian grey wolf in this grassland. We have been collaborating with pastoralist youth to monitor wolf movement. Indian grey wolves (Canis lupus pallipes) are an endangered species and the world’s oldest wolf lineage, found nowhere else in the world besides India and Pakistan. They have evolved alongside pastoralism and sheep and goats are a major part of their diet. A recent government report says that there are only 18 wolves left in the Surendranagar district! We are lucky to have documented wolf presence in this village and learn from pastoralists about wolf ecology.
Gugaliyana, named after the Critically Endangered plant ‘guggal’ (Commiphora wightii) is home to several other endangered species like the Indian star tortoise and the striped hyena. It is also home to diverse cultures and indigenous livestock breeds. On 25th January, we held a community meeting in Gugaliyana Primary School, which had an attendance of more than 120 people. We shared photos of our camera trap research findings; highlighted the diversity of mammalian species found in the forest including lesser-known species like the small Indian civet and the jackal. People often mistake the jackal for the wolf and vice versa. We explained the main differences between both species including their vocalization. We also spoke about Indian star tortoises and debunked some superstitious beliefs associated with the species. At the very end, we spread awareness about the Forest Department’s livestock compensation scheme and how to avail this compensation. The session closed with members from the community sharing their knowledge and experiences of the wild. We are thankful for support from the Habitats Trust and the Rainmatter Foundation, who have enabled our work.
Our ongoing work aims to integrate scientific knowledge and local ecological knowledge to safeguard wolf habitats in the region; and foster stewardship of the wolf and its unique sandstone grassland in the Thangadh area. Sheep and goat pastoralism is important for the survival of the wolf, particularly in areas where wild ungulates have drastically declined. The persistence of the wolf here strongly depends on human tolerance and the regulation of industrial activities in the landscape. We foresee some challenges in dealing with systemic issues that affect grassland habitats at large like mining and sandstone blasting.
