A quiet morning walk turned into a surprise for Hemant Garg. The Delhi resident spotted a lone, wolf-like animal along the Yamuna floodplains. What followed was a moment of wonder, a few quick photos, and plenty of questions. Could this really be an Indian grey wolf?
Elusive Animal Seen Near Palla Riverbanks
The possible sighting occurred on Thursday near Palla, north Delhi. The animal was seen moving alone along the Yamuna riverbanks. It vanished into thick grass before a closer look was possible. The sighting took place where the river enters the capital. No confirmed records exist of wolves in Delhi since the 1940s. This was noted by forester GN Sinha in a 2014 publication.
Photographs taken by Garg show a dark, grey-coated animal. Experts say it resembles the Indian grey wolf (Canis lupus pallipes). But they also caution about hybrid possibilities with stray dogs. Wildlife scientist YV Jhala said the animal “does look wolfish”. However, he flagged concerns over tail shape and colour.
“The tail’s curve and dark tone raise doubts,” Jhala said. “Without genetic tests, this remains just a possibility.” He added that cross-breeding with dogs is now common. Expanding dog populations and shrinking habitats have increased such cases. He recalled a wolf recently documented in Chambal in 2023. Wolves can travel long distances in search of space, he noted.
Experts Point to Uttar Pradesh as Possible Origin
Wildlife enthusiast Garg, 41, first saw the animal at 8am. He said it looked unlike any dog he had seen before. “It had a slow, deliberate walk and dull grey coat,” Garg said. He approached carefully, took photos, and saw it disappear.
Conservationist Raghu Chundawat reviewed the images and shared his thoughts. “It resembles an Indian grey wolf from what I see,” he said. He recalled seeing a similar animal near Delhi airport in 1990s. “It’s rare but not impossible that it wandered here,” he added. Uttar Pradesh holds a stable wolf population, especially in rural patches.
Naturalist Surya Ramachandran also analysed the photographs. “It’s quite likely it moved from Chambal via Yamuna,” he said. He stressed the need to understand urban-wildlife overlaps better.
Delhi’s Past and Present Connect in a Single Sighting
Historian GN Sinha’s book recalls Delhi’s rich wild past. The Ridge area once hosted wolves, hyenas, leopards and antelope. By 1908, blackbuck had become rare. By 1940, wolves and leopards had vanished entirely.
The Indian grey wolf is native to dry and grassy areas. It prefers scrub, thorn forests, and open agro-pastoral lands. It survives near human settlements and feeds on goats, sheep, and hares. These traits make it hardy but vulnerable to dog interbreeding.
Jawaharlal Nehru University zoologist Dr Suryaprakash weighed in on the location. “Delhi lies between two key wolf habitats,” he said. “To the east are Yamuna floodplains; west lies Aravalli belt.” These regions, in Haryana and Rajasthan, still hold small wolf populations.
NINOX founder Abhishek Gulshan welcomed the sighting’s ecological meaning. “This shows wildlife still finds space near cities,” he said. “It’s vital to conserve natural zones on urban edges.”
The forest department is yet to verify the sighting officially. Officials said they are reviewing images and may inspect the site. “We are not aware yet but will look into it,” said a senior official. For now, Delhi waits to confirm if a true wolf walked its banks.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
