A recent sighting along the Yamuna floodplains near Palla in north Delhi may have brought back a long-lost resident: the Indian grey wolf. Wildlife enthusiast Hemant Garg spotted the animal early on Thursday (May 15, 2025) and managed to photograph it before it disappeared into the tall grass. Experts now say this could be the first confirmed sighting of the species in the capital since the 1940s.
Lone wolf sighting after decades raises hopes… and questions
According to a Hindustan Times report, the animal’s appearance matches that of the Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes), a shy and elusive predator more commonly seen in the grasslands of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Garg, who has spent years tracking wildlife in and around the capital, said the animal stood out because of its “dull, dark grey coat” and unusual gait. “It looked like a dog, but didn’t behave like one,” he was quoted as saying in a Down To Earth report.
Curious about his discovery, Garg consulted naturalist Abhishek Gulshan, who runs a Delhi-based nature group, Ninox. The photos were later reviewed by Chennai-based wolf expert Surya Ramachandran and others, who agreed that the animal closely resembled a young Indian grey wolf. Wildlife scientist Bilal Habib from the Wildlife Institute of India also identified the animal as a “subadult wolf”, noting the typical coat and sharp young teeth.
Yet, uncertainty over identity prevails
Yet, not all experts are fully convinced. Dr YV Jhala, a veteran wildlife ecologist, warned that hybridisation between wolves and feral dogs is increasingly common due to shrinking natural habitats and rising stray dog populations. “It does look wolfish, but the tail and dark colour raise questions. Genetic testing would be needed to confirm its identity,” he told Hindustan Times.
Despite the uncertainty, the location of the sighting is interesting. Palla lies at the tri-junction of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Naturalist Surya Ramachandran believes the animal may have travelled along the Yamuna river from nearby regions like Chambal or Baghpat, where wolf populations are stable. This isn’t entirely far-fetched — wolves are known to cover vast distances in search of territory or mates.
A report by The Pioneer also quoted experts who pointed to the animal’s build, posture and jawline as evidence favouring its identification as a wolf. “From the side profile and chest structure, it doesn’t look like a stray dog. It might have used the river corridor to reach Delhi,” one researcher said.
Spotlight on Delhi’s dwindling biodiversity
Historically, Delhi was home to wolves, leopards, hyenas and blackbucks. However, as noted in forester GN Sinha’s 2014 book ‘An Introduction to the Delhi Ridge’, wolves vanished from the area by the 1940s due to urban expansion and habitat destruction.
This recent sighting, whether of a pure wolf or a hybrid, has reignited conversations about Delhi’s dwindling biodiversity. Experts stress the need to protect what little remains of the city’s green corridors. “Even in a city like Delhi, nature finds a way,” said Gulshan. “We must act to preserve these habitats before such sightings become impossible altogether.”
While the Delhi Forest Department has yet to confirm the sighting, officials have acknowledged receiving the photographs and may investigate further. “We have no recent record of wolves in Delhi, but we will look into the matter,” a senior official told Hindustan Times.
Ecological concerns
The grey wolf is a vital part of India’s ecosystems. It typically inhabits grasslands, scrub forests and dry deciduous regions, and coexists with pastoral communities, often clashing with them due to livestock predation. The possibility of its return to Delhi, even if momentary, is both a surprise and a call to action.
Dr Suryaprakash, a zoologist at Jawaharlal Nehru University, noted that the location of the sighting is especially noteworthy.
“Delhi sits between two major wolf habitats — the Yamuna river plains and the Aravalli hills of Haryana stretching into Rajasthan. These ecosystems support this shy, strategic hunter,” he explains. “While these wolves seldom threaten humans, they tend to stay near villages to hunt livestock. Unfortunately, cross-breeding with dogs over time has compromised their genetic distinctiveness,” he was quoted in the Hindustan Times report.
