endangered grey wolf in Maharashtra

2 Nov, 2012, 03.08AM IST, Clara Lewis,TNN

State cover for endangered grey wolf in Maharashtra

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MUMBAI: To protect the Indian wolf or grey wolf that is threatened with extinction due to shrinking habitats and conflict with farmers, the revenue and forests department has said it will not compensate farmers whose domestic animals are killed by the wolf, if the cattle carcass is moved from the site where it was killed.

To get compensation, farmers take the carcass of the killed animal to government offices as evidence.

Praveen Pardeshi, principal secretary, revenue and forests, said the wolf is found chiefly in the grasslands of central Maharashtra, comprising Marathwada and parts of western Maharashtra such as Solapur and Satara. An endangered and protected species, there are nearly 200 grey wolves in Maharashtra.

"The wolf's habitat is same as grazing ground for domestic cattle," he said. The wolf kills cattle for a meal, but farmers take away the carcasses. So the wolf has to hunt for another kill. "Farmers often poison the meat to get kill the wolves. Hence, now on, the farmers only have to inform the range forest officer of the spot where the animal was killed," he said, adding the wolf does not eat entrails so it is easy to confirm if an animal has been killed.

"Else, the farmer can take a picture as evidence. This will ensure the wolf finishes its meal and does not kill another animal.