A startling sighting of a presumed Indian grey wolf near Delhi’s Yamuna floodplains on May 19, 2025, has ignited excitement and skepticism, marking the first reported appearance of this endangered species in the capital since the 1940s. Captured by wildlife enthusiast Hemant Garg in Palla, where the Yamuna enters the city, the animal’s grey coat and wolfish silhouette have raised hopes of a wildlife resurgence. However, experts caution that its dog-like traits, such as a curved tail and dark coloration, suggest possible hybridization with feral dogs, pending genetic testing. This rare event underscores the fragile balance between urban expansion and wildlife conservation in India’s bustling capital.
Garg, a 41-year-old businessman, spotted the canid while exploring the floodplains, snapping photos before it vanished into the bushes. “Its grey pattern was unlike any stray,” he told reporters, sparking a flurry of posts on X where users hailed the sighting as a sign of “ecological corridors” persisting amid Delhi’s urban sprawl. The Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, is endangered, with fewer than 3,000 left in the wild. Once common in the Delhi Ridge, wolves vanished as hyenas, leopards, and blackbuck dwindled due to habitat loss by the early 20th century.
Dr. Y.V. Jhala, former dean of the Wildlife Institute of India, reviewed the images and noted the animal’s “wolfish shape” but flagged its tail and coloration as hybrid indicators. “Genetic analysis is crucial,” Jhala said, highlighting the growing threat of wolf-dog hybridization driven by India’s 35 million stray dogs. Posts on X echoed calls for verification, with some urging conservation efforts to protect potential wolf habitats. The sighting, near the Yamuna’s relatively undisturbed floodplains, suggests wolves may be navigating fragmented corridors from Haryana or Uttar Pradesh, where small populations persist.
Conservationists see hope but warn of challenges. Habitat fragmentation, human-wolf conflict, and livestock attacks—prompting retaliatory killings—threaten the species, with most suitable habitats outside protected areas. “Wolves need vast ranges, but urbanization boxes them in,” said ecologist Anil Sharma, noting the risk of diseases like canine distemper from strays. Critics question whether Delhi’s concrete jungle can support apex predators, pointing to a 2024 nilgai sighting as evidence of wildlife disorientation. Yet, the Yamuna’s floodplains, less encroached than the Ridge, offer a slim chance for transient wolves, provided conflicts are managed.
The sighting has prompted action. The Delhi Forest Department plans camera traps and DNA sampling, while NGOs push for awareness to curb human-wildlife clashes.