A fascinating but vilified predator of the Asian jungles is the Dhole or the Asiatic Wild Dog [Cuon alpinus]. Dhole, a pack-hunting wild canid, resembles the wolf and the African wild dog in its life history traits. The term wild dog is in fact a misnomer as the Dhole is genetically distinct from true dogs. The term Dhole is reported to have an ancient Asiatic origin signifying recklessness and daring.
Spot the Indian Wild Dog in all its beauty on safari in India.
About the Asiatic Wild Dog :
The Dhole’s current distribution extends extensively from Saghalien Amurland and the Altai mountains over the whole of continental Asia. They are also found on the islands of Sumatra and Java. Fossil remains of the Dhole from the mid and early Pleistocene discovered in Europe, the Far East and Southeast Asia, indicate that the species was once more widely distributed than it is at present, which makes the origin of the Dhole unclear. Zoogeographically, Dhole is probably the most widespread canid of the Indian, Indo-Malayan and Indo-Chinese subregions.
In south Asia, Dholes are almost exclusively seen in forests and thick scrub jungles. The principal components that constitute the ideal Dhole habitat are the prey abundance, water, forest, interspersed with grassy openings, den sites and absence of human disturbance.
On an average, an adult male Dhole weighs 18kg, stands around 50cm at shoulder, and total length is approximately 130cm, including the 40-45cm long black bushy tail. They show some resemblance to a red, village pariah dog, except for the black bushy tail, slightly more rounded and furry ears and a more convex face profile.
Adaptations of the Asiatic Wild Dog :
The dhole has been variously described as combining the physical characteristics of the gray wolf and the red fox and as being "cat-like" on account of its long backbone and slender limbs. It has a wide and massive skull with a well-developed sagittal crest, and its masseter muscles are highly developed compared to other canid species, giving the face an almost hyena-like appearance. The rostrum is shorter than that of domestic dogs and most other canids. The species has six rather than seven lower molars. The upper molars are weak, being one third to one half the size of those of wolves and have only one cusp as opposed to between two and four, as is usual in canids, an adaptation thought to improve shearing ability, thus allowing it to compete more successfully with kleptoparasites.
The social behaviour of Wild Dogs is one of the most fascinating sights on safari in India.
The Best Places in India to see the Asiatic Wild Dog on Safari :
Pench National Park : Prime Tiger habitat, Pench National Park in India is a fantastic place to spot the Indian Wild Dog. Pench is teeming with Spotted Deer and the rolling hills, the large grasslands, and the relatively minimal undergrowth in these Teak forests are great hunting grounds for the Dhol. Know more about Pench.
Kanha National Park : The Land of the Swamp Deer and the Tiger has a population of Wild Dogs that occur in the Mukki region. In spite of the high density of Tigers here, the Dhole has found a way to carve out an existence in difficult circumstances. The beauty and diversity of Kanha with its chances of providing a sight of the Dholes, makes it one of the best places to see the Wild Dog in India. Know more about Kanha.
Nagzira National Park : These dry deciduous forests of Central India are home to large packs of Wild Dogs. Here, the relatively low occurrence of Tigers has been a boon to the Leopard and Wild Dog population. These elusive whistling dogs rarely seen in the Indian forests are seen here in their all their glory, establishing their apex predator status.
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