Identifying unknown Indian wolves by their distinctive howls: its potential as a non-invasive survey method.

ABSTRACT: Previous studies have posited the use of acoustics-based surveys to monitor population size and estimate their density. However, decreasing the bias in population estimations, such as by using Capture-Mark-Recapture, requires the identification of individuals using supervised classification methods, especially for sparsely populated species like the wolf which may otherwise be counted repeatedly. The cryptic behaviour of Indian wolf (Canis lupus pallipes) poses serious challenges to survey efforts, and thus, there is no reliable estimate of their population despite a prominent role in the ecosystem. Like other wolves, Indian wolves produce howls that can be detected over distances of more than 6 km, making them ideal candidates for acoustic surveys. Here, we explore the use of a supervised

SUBMITTER: Sadhukhan S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8012383 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature