Dholes: Asiatic wild dogs

 A recent study has found that dholes, also known as Asiatic wild dogs, in Central India primarily feed on wild prey such as sambar and chital, with very little dependence on livestock.

• Dholes are hypercarnivores, meaning that more than 70% of their diet consists of meat.
• The research paper, titled “Minimal Sample, Maximum Insight: DNA Metabarcoding Uncovers the Diet of Endangered Dholes in Central India,” was published in May in the journal Environmental DNA.
• The study was authored by Abhinav Tyagi, Alex M., Prajakta Hushangabadkar, Nandkishor Kale, Jitendra Ramgaokar and Uma Ramakrishnan.
• The researchers used DNA metabarcoding to gain insights into the dietary composition of dholes in Central India.
• Dholes, scientifically known as Cuon alpinus, are among the most threatened carnivores in the world.
• The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) currently categorises the dhole as Endangered.
• Dholes are endemic to South and Southeast Asia.
• Their historical geographical range has declined by more than 80%, representing a substantial contraction in their distribution.
• In India, dholes have lost nearly 60% of their historical range over the past century.
• Despite this decline, India supports the world’s largest remaining dhole population.

Major Dhole Populations in India

• Three major dhole metapopulations currently persist in India Western Ghats, Central India and Northeast India.
• According to the researchers, the forests of Central India and the Western Ghats support relatively high densities of dholes.
• This is largely attributed to the presence of extensive protected habitats and adequate availability of wild prey.

Source: DTE