Himalayan wolf lopes towards recognition as distinct species

Animal's unique adaptation to low-oxygen life can be basis for protection, say researchers

Wolves living in the Himalayas are to be recognised as a subspecies of the grey wolf, with researchers predicting that the animals will soon be declared a unique species.

The wolves surviving at high altitudes in Nepal and on the Tibetan plateau possess a genetic adaptation to cope with the lack of oxygen that is not found in any other wolf, a study reports.