Indian Dhole

Asiatic Wild Dog or Dhole

All wildlife enthusiasts have long been fascinated by charismatic carnivores like tigers and leopards, but the vast list of fauna has many more gems.One of them is the wild dog, also known as the Dhole.

Dholes are divided into 10 to 11 subspecies that can be found all over the world.Two of the species are endangered, while the other two are on the edge of extinction.The Asiatic wild dog  is the most prevalent subspecies in India.This apex predator can be found throughout Southeast Asia, including Bhutan, Southern China, India, Malaysia, Tibet, and Mongolia.

India may have the most dholes, which are found throughout three major landscapes: the Western Ghats, Central India, and Northeast India.

Family

Dholes belong to the Canidae family of animals.Dhole's Latin name is Cuon Alpinus, which means "dog" and "mountainous" indicating that they are mountain dogs.

Characteristics

Dhole is a sleek reddish-brown medium-sized dog with a bushy black tail that reaches a foot and a half in length.

This species prefers to reside in groups of two to twenty-five individuals.Every clan has a dominant and monogamous couple that is responsible for the pups.Occasionally, two separate clans will band together, resulting in a larger pack of wild dogs.

Whistlers Of The Wood

These daring, communal pack hunters communicate and exhibit their kindness in a unique way.Like other dogs, they greet each other by wagging their tails and licking each other's faces.They're known as whistlers of the wood because they can't bark or howl.Their ability to communicate effectively through a variety of clucks and screams makes them formidable pack hunters in the Indian jungles.These noises are thought to help keep the pack together.

Ruthless Killers

Dholes like to eat their victim before they kill it.These skilled hunters can take down prey eight times their own weight with ferocity.Dominant males are often seen fighting off with tigers and leopards.

Due of the lack of prey, they are territorial and require huge territory.The young ones are known to be looked after by all members of the pack.

Habitat In India

Though wild dogs are widespread in the Indian subcontinent, there are few places where you can have the best chance to spot this predator, which include Pench National Park, Satpura National Park and Tadoba National Park in Central India.

Some of the best sightings in Southern India can be found in the Bandipur, Mudumalai, Anamalai and Parambikulam Tiger reserves.

Habitat destruction, which has resulted in a decreased prey base, as well as human-related dangers, have pushed the species out of their natural habitats.

At Mudumalai ©Sheik