20 April,2026 10:55 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
The wolf: First identified in 2021 by a distinctive facial tuft, the injured male went on to become alpha and help raise a litter of pups to adulthood. Pic/The Grasslands Trust
Left crippled, likely by a poacher's snare, an Indian wolf from the grasslands of Pune district has defied the odds to emerge as the leader of a 12-member pack, in what conservationists describe as a rare story of resilience in a rapidly shrinking habitat. The wolf's journey has been documented by the Grasslands Trust, which works to conserve and restore grasslands across the Pune region.
>> The male wolf was first spotted during the monsoon of 2021 as a fringe challenger in a landscape dominated by an established alpha. Researchers identified him by a distinctive tuft of hair on his face.
The wolf: The three-legged Indian wolf, believed to have lost a paw to a snare, now leads the pack after surviving and adapting in a human-dominated landscape. Pics/The Grasslands Trust
>> Between 2022 and 2024, his sightings remained intermittent. He was occasionally seen with a female and sub-adults, but there was no clear evidence of him forming a pack.
The wolf's trajectory changed sharply in early 2025, when he reappeared with a missing paw, believed to be the result of a poacher's snare.
Despite the severity of the injury and a likely prolonged recovery, the wolf survived.
By mid-2025, he was observed moving on three legs, continuing to navigate a hostile landscape marked by:
>> Habitat loss due to human activity
>> Hunting pressures
>> Competition from hyenas, leopards and free-ranging dogs
The pack: The 12-member Indian wolf pack documented in Pune district, led by an injured alpha male that survived a suspected poacher's snare
>> By the end of 2025, researchers documented a pack of 12 wolves in the region, led by the same injured male.
>> Along with his mate, the wolf is believed to have raised a litter of around eight pups to adulthood - a significant achievement given his condition.
The pack's movements are being closely tracked by wildlife watcher Nikhil Khomne, a local conservation advocate.
Monsoon 2021: The male wolf is first sighted as a fringe challenger; identified by a distinctive facial tuft
2022-2024: Seen intermittently; no confirmed pack formation
Early 2025: Reappears with a missing paw, likely due to a snare
Mid 2025: Observed adapting to movement on three legs
Since late 2025: Emerges as alpha of a 12-member pack. He continues to lead the pack in a human-dominated landscape
Mihir Godbole from the Grasslands Trust said the case underscores both the threats faced by Indian wolves and their resilience.
"Grasslands are shrinking and so is the apex predator of these ecosystems, the Indian wolf. This case highlights both the pressures they face and their resilience," he said.
Referring to the injury, he added, "The loss of a foot reflects the hideous methods used by hunters, where animals are left to suffer. But it is also a story of survival. The wolf could not have done it alone - his mate and pack likely supported him through recovery. This is what makes wolves so special and emotionally relatable."
Species: Indian wolf
Location: Grasslands,
Pune district
Pack size: 12
Estimated pups raised: ~8
Key threat: Poaching snares, habitat loss
Monitoring: Local wildlife watcher
