The Himalayan Wolf is a critically endangered species that resides in small parts of India, Kashmir, and into China and Mongolia. The Himalayan Wolf is a newly recognized species, though based on genetic research, it may be a new distinct species (which may explain why the Himalayan Wolf, who has shared territory range with the Indian Wolf, has never bred with Indian Wolves)
The future of the Himalayan wolf is uncertain at best. Up until recently, it wasn't known that the Himalayan wolf differs genetically from other wolves. Recent studies have estimated the population to be only 350 individuals. These wolves are viewed as a menace to local farmers and ranchers and in turn are killed because they are unprotected. Therefore, it is imperative that these animals become protected because they represent the oldest extant lineage of any species of wolf on the planet. The species is estimated to be 800,000 years old which is twice as old as the North American Gray wolf at 400,000 years old.
18 Himalayan wolves are being bred in captivity. They were captured in the wild, as one of the threatened species was found with the snow leopard and are now being preserved in the Trans-Himalayan region of India, the Darjeeling Zoo in Shiwalik Hills on the lower range of the Himalaya in West Bengal, and in the Kufri Zoo with Kufri Himalayan National Park located in Himachal Pradesh province . In 2004, larger groups of Himalyan wolves were spotted in the Spiti valley. The total population evaluates for 21 individuals in four of the Zoological Parks of India
Source: Wikipedia
