Article Title: Dhole or Asiatic wild dog
09-10-2023
Environment & Ecology Prelims Plus
Why is in news? Prey base, habitat dictate Asiatic wild dog-tiger coexistence: study
Overlapping prey availability or habitat suitability could dictate a positive association between dholes and tigers, facilitating coexistence or even cooperative behaviours between the two species of carnivores, a new study has found.
About:
The dhole or Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus) is the only endangered wild pack-living canid in the tropical Indian forests and is considered at high risk of extinction.
The other names include Indian wild dog, whistling dog, red wolf, red dog and mountain wolf.
It is found in the forests of central, south, and southeast Asia.
They can be seen as far north as Siberia, as far south as some Malaysian islands, and as far west as the Indian peninsula.
They are found in three clusters across India, namely the Western and Eastern Ghats, the central Indian landscape and North East India.
The Western and Eastern Ghats is a stronghold region for dholes.
Dholes are animals that inhabit dense jungles, steppes, mountains, scrub forests, and pine forests.
Its length ranges between 76 and 100 cm (30 and 40 inches), exclusive of the 28–48-centimetre (11–19-inch) tail, and its weight is from 14 to 21 kg.
They vary in colour from charcoal grey to rust red to sandy beige, depending on their habitat.
Their tail is brushy and fox-like, often with a black tip.
They do have lighter colouration along their chest, belly, and paws.
Dholes are highly social animals, and they frequently hunt in packs of 5 to 12. These clans may grow to as many as 30 or 40 members.
Conservation status:
IUCN Red List: Endangered
The Wildlife Protection Act 1972: Schedule II
CITES: Appendix II
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