Hello! We are not regular dogs, so do not search for what kind of breed we are. We are Wild dogs found in forests and other areas where human populations are very little. We are also called as Dholes. Take a look at some important points about us:
- We are first described as Canis Alpinus by Peter Simon Pallas in 1811 but the differences in physical characteristics of us and canis species are discovered by Brian Houghton Hodgson in 1833 and we are given a genus called Cuon. Hence, we are scientifically called Cuon Alpinus.
- We cannot be domesticated as we remain hostile even after years. However young pups can be domesticated.
- We are highly social animals and intragroup fights are very rarely seen.
- We are excellent hunters and can run at speeds of 48 mph.
- We were responsible for killing a lot of livestock and hence people of native India used to hunt us.
- In British ruled India, British people used to kill us as we fed on game birds that were important for them.
- In 2014, the first Dhole conservation breeding center of India was started in Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam.
- As of 2008, at least 110 dholes were in captivity.
- We are very prominent in several cultures and traditions. We were seen in the coping stone of Bharhut Stupa dating from 100 BC.
- Our fearsome reputation in India gave us many names like the red devil, devil dog, jungle devil, and the hound of kali.
- In many European texts, we are portrayed as Hellhounds.
- We also appear in Rudyard Kipling’s series “Red dog” which is a sequel for “The Jungle Book” where we were bloodthirsty animals descending from the Deccan plateau.
- Our sheer numbers were terrifying and respected even by the tiger Share Khan in the story.
SOME QUICK NOTES:
Our Scientific Name: Cuon Aplinus.
Our Identification: Dog-like, slender and long animal with reddish-brown coat and fluffy tail.
Our Habitat: forests, grasslands, tundra, steppes, Savannahs, and plains.
Our range:
Our Food habits: Carnivorous; feed by hunting Deer, Chital, Blackbucks, Wild Boars, Nilgai, Sambar, Water buffalos, and gaur.
Our Breeding Period: October to January.
Our Gestation Period: 60-63 days.
Number of cubs born: 4-6
Lifespan: 15-16 years in captivity, less in wild.
IUCN red list status: Endangered.
CITES: Appendix II.
Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II.
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Canidae
Tribe: Canini
Genus: Cuon
Species: C. alpinus
COMPLETE DETAILS ABOUT US FOR ANIMAL ENTHUSIASTS:
We have several names like Dholes, Eastern Asiatic Dholes, Indian Dholes, Chinese Dholes and Southern Dholes. We are dog-like species found in East Asia and Indian Subcontinent. Let us tell you more about our species.
Wild Dogs are scientifically called as Cuon Aplinus. The subspecies found in India is called Cuon Alpinus Aplinus and has a name Ussuri Dhole.
HOW WE LOOK:
We are mostly dog-like species with a body length of about 900m, a height of 43cm-56cm and weigh 10kg-21kg.
We have a red coat that changes depending on the climate. In summer, we have a coarser and leaner coat with small mane while in winter, we have woolly coat with white underfur and a large mane. It can be said that we have physical characteristics of several other species like grey wolves, red fox, etc.
Our slender body and long backbone are cat-like. Our throat, belly, chest, flanks, and upper parts of our legs are less bright than the remaining body and has yellowish in color. We have a long and fluffy tail that has a dark brown tip. Our muzzle and forehead are greyish-red in color.
WE ARE FOUND IN:
We are animals that live in forests, grasslands, tundra, steppes, Savannahs, and plains. We are a very widespread species found in almost every part of the world. The subspecies found in India are found in India, Nepal, China, Bangladesh, Thailand, and Burma.
WHAT WE EAT:
We are carnivorous animals. We eat by scavenging and hunting in small groups. A single individual stays in pursuit of the prey while other members run at a normal pace behind. When the single individual is tired a member from the groups replaces it. Most of the hunts are short and under 500m.
Our diet includes Deer, Chital, Blackbucks, Wild Boars, Nilgai, Sambar, Water buffalos, and gaur.
OUR REPRODUCTION:
We are very social animals and due to the abundance of prey, we have less dominance hierarchy than grey wolves. We live in clans rather than packs and frequently break into small groups of 3-5 animals. Clans generally consist of 5-12 individuals. We are polygamous animals meaning we have multiple mates in a lifetime. Male mates with multiple females in the clan.
We live in Dens. These dens can be small with a single entrance to very large with more than 6 entrances. These big dens are called “cities” and are built from multiple generations.
Our breeding season is from October to January. The female gives birth to 4-6 pups at a time and the gestation period is 60-63 days. The young pups are taken care of and fed by both parents as well as other members of the clan. The pups are fed regurgitated food until they are big enough to hunt. The young may leave after 70-80 days of age. Our lifespan in captivity is 15-16 years and less in the wild.
MORE ABOUT US:
We, like dogs, have a complex body language and various vocalizations that we use to communicate with each other.
We do not howl like wolves or bark like dogs.
We have predators like tigers, leopards, hyenas, bears, wolves, etc.
We are highly social animals and intragroup fights are very rarely seen.
We are excellent hunters and can run at speeds of 48 kmph.
OUR CONSERVATION:
Our populations have declined, and we live in very low densities in our habitat. However, our populations are now getting stable. Threats like poaching, illegal hunting, and fur trading are no longer significant. We are under significant threat of habitat loss and lack of prey.
We are listed as “Endangered” species in the red list of IUCN. We are also listed in CITES Appendix II and protected in India under Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
