- A close look into the lives of melanistic wolves in high-altitude regions of the Indian trans-Himalayas offers new observations about their social dynamics.
- Melanistic wolves are seen being cast out from the pack or facing aggression from other wolves, and often end up forming their own units.
- These wolves being chased out of wild territories could also exacerbate human-animal conflict.
- The views in the commentary are that of the author.
The allure of the cold deserts in Changthang, Ladakh, is unparalleled. They offer vast sweeping valleys, rocky towering mountains, and the sense of solitude without mobile networks. Accompanied by Mohd. Kazim and Dawa Tsering, our mission was to assess ungulate populations from Tsokar to Hanley in Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary.
These surveys are part of the ongoing World Wildlife Fund-India (WWFI) programme in the region to address the degradation of high-altitude rangelands, and associated biodiversity and livelihood impacts, by facilitating a community-led vision and rangeland management model in the Indian trans-Himalayas. This project aims to restore the Changpa and Brokpa communities as stewards of rangelands for the benefit of people and nature. A thematic area of the project is the assessment of population-density and distribution of carnivores and ungulates, and fostering co-existence through effective human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
Little did we know that this expedition would lead us to witness one of the most extraordinary phenomena in the wild—the elusive melanistic wolves of Changthang. The enigmatic Himalayan wolf, a lesser-known predator of the high-altitude regions of Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, is an important figure in these ecosystems.
Unlike its lowland cousins, this subspecies has adapted to survive in extreme conditions, such as thin air, freezing temperatures, and low prey density.
Studying wolves in the trans-Himalayas
My fascination with wolves began years ago, while working in Nagzira Navegaon Tiger Reserve. On one of the transects, I saw a tall and slender “dog” walking into a lantana maze. I only realised it was a wolf when it popped its head out of the brush, displaying pointed ears, strong jaws and A-type eyes (a sharp or intense gaze that canids likely use to communicate with each other).
Years ago in Kargil, about 500 kilometres from Changthang, it was a bitterly cold winter evening when Kazim and I were trudging through the heavy snow. As we passed by a poultry pen, a massive Himalayan wolf leapt over the five-foot fence. Its thick fur, a mix of cream, black and brown, gave it a grizzled appearance. For a moment, time stood still. The wolf stared at us, and we, equally startled, stood frozen.
A year later, we found ourselves in Changthang, a region renowned for its wolf sightings. The packs here are known to be as large as seventeen individuals. Two days after we arrived in Hanley, our first encounter was nothing short of spectacular — a large pack of wolves hunting a kiang. The synchronisation and sheer efficiency of the hunt were mesmerising.
A cultural symbol
Various beliefs and folklore have shaped local perceptions of wolves. They are often depicted as a symbol of strength, speed, cunning, and endurance. In Ladakh, wolves are known as Shangku and it is believed that their howls are a sign of impending change. Some herders recount tales of wolves as protectors of sacred mountain spaces, guardians of spiritual gateways. In certain remote villages, there is a belief that wolves possess the power to shape-shift, blending in with their surroundings to become invisible to hunters.
One such belief is that when wolves howl together near a village, it is considered a bad omen, foretelling disasters like a natural calamity, illness, or even death. Collective howls have long instilled fear among local communities, reinforcing the idea that wolves are not only dangerous but also connected to supernatural forces.
Another belief is that if a wolf pup appeared physically different from the rest of its pack by way of unusual markings, colours or build, it would develop an unnatural cunning and aggression, posing a serious threat to both livestock and humans. These wolves were said to possess a unique strength, making them particularly feared by herders. In addition to these beliefs, wolves’ incredible speed and agility have given rise to the local phrase, “as fast as the wolf.” Such stories are an integral part of the cultural landscape and provide a unique perspective on human-wildlife relationships.
Outcasts among canids, the lone melanistic wolf
One frigid day, while scanning the hill slopes for blue sheep and argali, I spotted movement among the brush. Dusk was falling, making it difficult to discern what I was seeing a hundred feet below me. Then, out of the shadows emerged a pure black figure, thick smoke through the yellow Caragana grass—a melanistic wolf. My heart raced. As I watched in awe, another melanistic wolf followed. Soon both wolves went up ahead on the parallel hill, where they rested around a burrow under a big rock.
Days turned into weeks before we caught sight of another melanistic wolf. One day, as I closely observed a group of Tibetan gazelles, I noticed a sudden change in their behaviour. Their heart-shaped rumps flared up, and their attention shifted towards a stream. Following their gaze, I saw it—a lone melanistic wolf, its yellow eyes contrasting sharply with its pitch-black fur. It dashed towards the gazelles, but they were too quick, and the hunt ended in the gazelles’ favour. The wolf turned towards us, seeming to assess our presence. Slowly, it approached our vehicle, sniffing. I noticed the abdomen was enlarged, with its teats starting to swell — it was a lone gestating female, fending for herself without the support of a pack. As quickly as she’d appeared, she vanished into the dusk.
Although gestating wolves sometimes isolate themselves during nesting, why would a social animal, at such a vulnerable time in her life, hunt alone? Wolves, like wild dogs, lions, and elephants, typically raise their young ones as a unit.
The following month, we returned to the field to retrieve camera traps we had set up. One camera trap placed near a frozen stream, where we had found plenty signs of wolves, held significant revelations.
Social dynamics between melanistic and normally coloured wolves
The pictures in the camera traps revealed a temporal segregation and distinct group dynamics between packs of normally coloured and melanistic wolves. The photos showed a pack of seven normally coloured wolves hunting and only after they left, three melanistic wolves appeared in the same area along the stream. They clearly maintained distance from the other wolves. It seemed that these melanistic wolves might have been outcast from different packs, and found solace in each other’s company in the unforgiving landscape.
Among them was the same gestating female I had encountered earlier, accompanied by a young male and an older male with a greyed-out muzzle. The puzzle pieces fell into place, supported by a photographer friend’s tale of a lone melanistic wolf being mauled to death by a pack of normally coloured wolves. Similarly, the first two melanistic wolves I saw in Tsokar were never seen with any pack of normally coloured wolves. None of the sighted wolf packs had melanistic members.
These dynamics likely stem from a combination of genetic, ecological and social factors. Scientific research indicates that melanism in wolves is caused by a genetic mutation due to hybridisation with dogs, or genes from wolf-dog hybrids.
Melanism is relatively rare, and can affect social interactions and hunting strategies. Our observations suggest that melanistic wolves may experience discrimination within packs, leading to social ostracism or even aggressive encounters.
Such dynamics have been noted in anecdotal evidence from African wild dogs, where coat colour can influence social hierarchies and mating opportunities. Additionally, melanistic wolves might adopt different foraging patterns or territories to avoid conflict with normally coloured packs, contributing to their solitary behaviour or formation of smaller, separate packs. Melanistic wolves being chased out of wild territories could also exacerbate human-animal conflict. Little is known about these dynamics, which need to be studied further to fully understand ecological and evolutionary implications.
Read more: Silence of the wolves: How human landscapes alter howling behaviour
The future of the lone wolf
These encounters with melanistic wolves in Changthang have been nothing short of magical. As we continue our work in this remote wilderness, the memory of these encounters serves as a constant reminder of the hidden wonders that nature holds, waiting to be discovered by those who venture into its depths. However, the Himalayan wolf faces numerous threats, including habitat fragmentation, retaliatory killings due to livestock depredation, and increasing pressure on resources.
WWF-India’s Western Himalayan Landscape team is dedicated to conserving the Himalayan wolf through multiple avenues. This involves extensive camera trapping and sign surveys in key wolf habitats, including regions within Changthang like Hanley, to gather vital data on their movements, population structure, and interactions with other species. In addition, WWF collaborates closely with local communities to mitigate human-wolf conflict by promoting non-lethal methods such as fencing, fox lights, Animal Intrusion Detection and Repellent Systems (ANIDERS) and compensation schemes for livestock losses.
By fostering a deeper understanding of wolves and their ecological role, addressing cases of livestock predation, and working collaboratively with the Changpa community, we can create a harmonious coexistence between humans and wolves in the Changthang region. By preserving the delicate balance of this ecosystem, we can safeguard the future of both wolves and the Changpa, ensuring that their shared heritage continues to thrive.
The author is Project Officer-Species Conservation, WWF-India.
Banner image: A melanistic wolf caught on camera in Changthang. Image by Preet Sharma.
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