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Genomic research shows that grey wolves belong to three major evolutionary lineages. The contact zone between these lineages is in Pakistan.
Pakistan has a rich diversity of wildlife; however, many of its species are endangered and face local extinction.
In recent years, human-induced pressures have exacerbated the decline of wildlife populations in Pakistan, and significant gaps in their basic ecology and distribution further impede conservation efforts. Grey wolves (Canis lupus) are recognized as endangered in Pakistan; however, key knowledge gaps in their local population status and distribution hinder their conservation.
Gray wolves in Pakistan are found across the country -- from the Thar desert to the high Karakoram ranges.
Gray wolves in Pakistan are found across the country -- from the Thar desert to the high Karakoram ranges.
These wolves in Pakistan are special.
Recent work has shown southern regions of Asia hold a disproportionate amount of the global diversity of gray wolves living today. This is partly because there are three main wolf lineages in the world -- the Indian, Tibetan, and Holarctic -- that are all found in Asia.
Pakistan is the hotspot for gray wolf diversity in the world. That is because all three of the world's wolf lineage converge here.
The three main wolf lineages in the world. The Indian and Tibetan (also called Himalayan) are restricted to the Indian subcontinent and the Tibetan plateau, respectively. The Holarctic lineage is widespread and found everywhere else.
The Indian wolf
The Indian wolf is considered an ancient wolf lineage. This means they branched off from other wolf populations earliest, over 100,000 years ago.
The Indian wolf is only found in India and parts of Pakistan. They are specifically adapted to live in arid, hot environments -- short hair, small body size.
Out of the world's wolves, they probably live in the highest human and dog density landscapes. We think there are only ~3,000 Indian wolves left in the world. In Pakistan, a rough estimate put them at ~300 individuals left in the country, likely in Sindh, Punjab, and parts of Balochistan.
Estimated geographic distribution of the Indian, Tibetan, and Holarctic lineages in the Indian subcontinent based on genetic data.
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