There is no place like home: Den and rendezvous site selection of Indian wolves in the human-dominated landscape of Maharashtra

Den-dependent species play a vital role in maintaining ecosystem balance, and understanding their den selection criteria is crucial for effective conservation. The Indian Wolf Canis lupus pallipes is found in various habitats, mostly human-dominated areas in India. They are social animals and use dens and rendezvous sites for rearing pups. We collected the data from 32 dens and 25 rendezvous sites in Maharashtra from 2016 to 2021. We measured 11 habitat and anthropogenic variables at den and rendezvous sites and 60 contrast random locations within the 95% MCP of all the collared wolves. Out of 32 dens and 25 rendezvous sites evaluated, the maximum dens and rendezvous sites were found in grassland and the lowest number of dens in agriculture. The den sites were positively associated with the presence of water (β=-4.55; p=0.006), vegetation cover (β=1.97; p=0.008), plantation (β=1.52; p= 0.001), presence of grassland (β=1.41; p=0.004), and scrub forest (β=1.09; p=0.02). The human footprint was negatively associated with the den sites (β=-0.88; p=0.05). The distance from escape cover (β=-5.17; p=0.02), presence of plantation (β=1.81; p=0.003), presence of grassland (β=1.46; p=0.01), presence of scrub (β=1.23; p=0.006) was positively associated with rendezvous sites and negative association with vegetation cover (β=-1.72; p=0.01). This study underscores the significance of understanding den and rendezvous site selection for the Indian Wolf in human-dominated landscapes. The identified factors provide essential information for conservationists, helping them design effective management plans to ensure the survival of Indian wolves and their coexistence with humans in the changing environmental context