Wild dogs in asia series#

Ecological nicheĭholes are hyper-carnivores and so are a keystone species in Asian ecosystems.

Currently, this species is classified as Endangered (EN) and its numbers today are decreasing. Population numberĪccording to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the dhole is approximately 4,500-10,500 individuals, of which only 949-2,215 are mature individuals. People have destroyed their den sites and also poisoned, trapped, and shot them for food, for fur, for being a threat to livestock, and because some hunters view them as a competitor. The dhole has also been hunted and persecuted by humans. Another important threat is a disease, particularly in India, from domestic and feral dogs. Deforestation has taken place throughout its habitat range as a result of logging, gathering of wood for fuel, expansion of agriculture, and the spread of human settlements. The main threat to the Dhole is habitat loss and its degradation. They have been seen sitting in shallow pools, whatever the temperature of the water. After meals they rush to a water site, or sometimes will leave their kill for a quick drink of water nearby. During a pursuit, one or more dholes may take over chasing their prey, while the rest of the pack keeps up at a steadier pace behind, taking over once the other group tires. Although not as fast as jackals and foxes, they can chase their prey for many hours. They rarely hunt nocturnally, except on moonlit nights, indicating they greatly rely on sight when hunting. Dholes are primarily diurnal hunters, hunting in the early hours of the morning. Despite packs being hierarchical, the members are hardly ever aggressive towards each other. They carry out cooperative group hunting and look after the young as a group. Packs sometimes join up to form groups with up to 40 animals. Generally, a pack has more males than females, and usually, each pack has only one breeding female. Their population numbers remain unknown because African wild dogs are constantly on the move looking for prey.Dholes live in hierarchical packs numbering 5 to 12 individuals, consisting of a dominant female, a dominant male, and their offspring. The transmission of infectious diseases from domesticated dogs had led to the extinction of packs in some cases. There have been efforts to eradicate the species as it is considered vermin that attacks domestic animals. The animal is threatened by bushmeat poaching and a dwindling habitat that reduces their chances of finding prey due to human activity. The African wild dog is listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List. They give priority to their cubs at mealtimes and often share prey with weaker members of the pack. They live in packs, and the males and females work together to coordinate their hunting skills. “African wild dogs are interesting animals in that they are very social,” said zoo attendant Masako Hashimoto. The “hoo calls” can be heard from several kilometers away to alert others. They make the calls when looking for other in their pack or calling that prey is close at hand. To observe their behavior, a camera was installed in their enclosure with pieces of chicken meat placed around it.Īs soon as the gate opened, two African wild dogs sprang out and devoured the food in seconds. It is one of two zoos that keep the animals for exhibition in Japan. Each dog has a slightly different pattern.Įleven African wild dogs are kept at the Yokohama Zoological Gardens Zoorasia in the city’s Asahi Ward. They sport mottled coats of white, black, brownish yellow and other colors. The carnivorous canine measures about 75 to 115 centimeters long and is characterized by large, round ears and slim legs. They hunt in packs and relentlessly chase their prey after waiting for the right moment to mount an attack.Īfrican wild dogs inhabit savannas across the African continent except for the Sahara Desert and tropical rain forests. A special 360-degree video camera system was set up in zoos and other facilities to show how the animals view their world as they interact.Īlso visit our special 360-DEGREE LIVES page ( ), where you can watch all the previous videos.Īfrican wild dogs, which have a 70-percent success rate in their predatory kills, are touted as the world’s most efficient hunters in the animal kingdom.

Wild dogs in asia series#

Editor's note: This is part of a series of videos offering an up-close perspective on the animal kingdom.