Understanding Wolf Howls and their application in individual identification and population estimation

Abstract

The current study addresses the knowledge gap about Indian wolf vocalisation. Alongside, it focuses on the identification potentiality of wolf howl to an individual level for using them in population estimation through mark-capture-recapture. The study also includes the howling behaviour and responses of the Indian wolf to various ecological and anthropogenic factors. Understanding the howling behaviour is key for designing howl survey methods for wolf census. As howl survey is a technique to detect wolves over long distances, the technique might provide a cost-effective solution for population estimation and a noninvasive monitoring tool for Indian wolves in human-dominated landscapes.