This wild dog is called the dhole, an unknown predator in the wilds of India.
Wild dog with snow whistling strangely
Although it looks like a fox at first glance, these creatures are actually a dhole (Cuon alpinus). Also known as Asian wild dog or Indian wild dog.
In fact, this wild dog holds a unique place in the hierarchy of predators, often hunting in packs, like its distant cousin, the gray wolf.
Also known as the Asian wild dog, dholes were once a wide-ranging wild dog that covered nearly half of the globe. Today, the dhole is an endangered species with an estimated population of less than 2,500 adults.
Despite their small size, weighing between 12 and 18kg, dholes are known for their extraordinary courage and agility, being able to take down prey much larger than themselves. These nimble creatures can even jump up to a height of more than 2 meters in the air, a remarkable feat for an animal of their size.
Unlike other wild dogs, dholes are highly social animals. They live and hunt in groups, which can have 5 to 12 members. Some observers have noted groups as large as 40 individuals, although that is rare.
Dholes are animals that live in jungles, savannas, mountains, scrub forests, and pine forests. The coat color of these Asian wild dogs can range from charcoal gray to red or brown with highlights of yellow, white, or other bright colors.
Hierarchy within the herd is usually equal, with responsibility being shared equally among both males and females. These linkages help the herd cooperate in hunting and ensure the survival of the young.
When dusk falls, these wild dogs will begin their hunt. The quiet night also vibrates with their characteristic whistles, an important part of the animals' communication system. Each member, guided by whistles, has different specific roles.
Despite being a member of the canine family, dholes do not bark or howl, but they can emit the unique screams, chirps, and whistles they use to communicate and hunt.
With a coordinated attack, they can take down even a mighty sambar deer. Dholes are commonly known for taking down prey that can weigh 50 times their body weight.
Unlike most dogs, after each hunt, they will let the young in the pack eat first. They almost always avoid humans, but they are not afraid to confront dangerous animals, such as wild boar, wild buffalo or even tiger.
These wild dogs were once distributed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, but 12,000 to 18,000 years ago they were reduced to their present habitats in East and South Asia. The dhole is believed to have descended from a primitive breed of jackal found in the Pleistocene epoch, where it prowled throughout Europe, North America, and Asia.
Although there are reports of this wild dog killing tigers, at the moment we have not observed this. Despite the ability to coexist with these top carnivores, the Indian wild dog still struggles to survive in human-populated areas.
Jan Kamler from the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford told The Guardian: "I consider dhole dogs to be the most extreme of dogs due to their unique morphological and behavioral features, such as: including specialized teeth for super carnivores".
Unlike other dogs, dholes very rarely display fighting behavior with their fellow canines. Dholes are carnivores. They mainly hunt ungulate mammals in packs; They are even known for their ability to eat more than 1 kg of meat in less than 4 seconds.
An endangered species?
A combination of habitat loss, disease from domestic dogs, and competition with larger predators such as tigers and leopards has led to a dramatic decline in dhole populations.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) lists the dhole as endangered, with an estimated global population of less than 2,000 adults.
"Compared to tigers, a dhole isn't much," said Kate Jenks, a conservation biologist with the Minnesota Zoo who spent nine years trapping, wearing collars and researching tigers in Thailand. charming'. They tend to be overlooked by scientists and conservationists who are more interested in tigers and leopards living in the same area."
In the wild, this wild dog has been observed to mate from October to January, but this can change in captivity. Female dholes can give birth to 5-10 pups per litter, but sometimes as many as 12 to 16 pups.
Despite the mounting difficulties, these predators are slowly changing to adapt. The dholes are adjusting their behavior and diet to the rapidly changing environment. For example, dholes in the wild have been observed to switch from daytime to nocturnal activity in areas of high human activity.
In response to their dwindling numbers, efforts are underway to protect these seductive predators. Various initiatives, both governmental and non-governmental, are taking steps to conserve dhole habitat, prevent disease, and reduce human-animal conflict.
The growth rate of young cubs is often similar to that of coyotes. By the age of six months, the young will hunt with the herd, and by the age of eight months, they can be assigned tasks similar to those of the adults by members of the herd.
Usually, around the age of 3, the females leave the herd to join another group. In the wild, the average lifespan of these animals is about 10 years. Dhole in captivity has an average lifespan of 15 to 16 years.
