Assessing current and future habitat suitability for the Himalayan wolf in the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary

Climate change poses a significant threat to biodiversity, impacting species distribution and ecological dynamics all across the world. Mammals, including canids, are especially vulnerable to climatic variability which affects their habitat and other ecological processes. This study focuses on the habitat modelling of the Himalayan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) in the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, Western Himalayas, using current and future climate scenarios. Field data collection from 2020–2022 yielded 135 geo-referenced presence locations for Himalayan wolves. Advanced modelling techniques, including nine algorithms, were employed to assess habitat suitability. The models indicate that the northeastern and eastern parts of the sanctuary are most suitable for the Himalayan wolf under current conditions, with a substantial increase in suitable habitats predicted under future climate scenarios, especially under the RCP8.5 2050 scenario. This study underscores the importance of integrated conservation strategies in light of climate change and increasing human pressures in this critical region.