Patterns of Distribution in Context with Habitat Preference, and Conservation Threats of Indian Grey Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) in Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India

The Indian Gray Wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) is a keystone species in India’s arid and semi-arid ecosystems, but due to habitat degradation, prey scarcity, and human-wildlife conflict, this species is facing serious threats. This study aimed to (1) identify the distribution and habitat preferences of Indian Grey Wolves and (2) assess the key conservation threats they face within Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh. Data were collected from July to September 2023 using 102 km of line transects and 448 km of vehicle transects across three forest ranges. A total of 36 sites were surveyed using sign surveys and geospatial tools, and occupancy was analysed using a single-season occupancy model in R Studio with the ‘unmarked’ package. The naïve occupancy estimate was 0.531, while forest cover (ψ = 0.3, p = 0.045) and prey density (ψ = 0.5, p = 0.023) significantly influenced occupancy. Detection probability was positively associated with temperature (p = 0.012) and negatively with cloud cover (p = 0.045). The small sample size (36 sites × 3 surveys) posed a limitation, addressed using Maximum Penalized Likelihood Estimation to reduce bias. Results suggest wolves are avoiding human settlements and preferring denser forest patches, likely due to increased anthropogenic pressure in open habitats. Conservation implications include prioritizing habitat restoration, ensuring the availability of wild prey, and implementing community-based conflict mitigation strategies to reduce retaliatory killings and promote coexistence. This field study is one of the first ever done in the region and could act as a baseline for research and planning related to conservation strategies that may assure the survival of this endangered carnivore.