Dhole

Dhole, also called red dog, wild member of the dog family, native to central and southern Asia. Swift, efficient hunters, dholes have a reputation as cruel killers and have long been hunted and poisoned by humans.

Dholes are found in southern Russia and Siberia, China, India, and Southeast Asia. They prefer forested areas but also inhabit scrub regions and alpine terrain. They can survive polar cold as well as tropical heat and can live at altitudes up to 4,000 m (13,000 ft).

Similar in size and shape to coyotes, dholes measure 88 to 113 cm (35 to 45 in) in length. They weigh 10 to 20 kg (22 to 44 lb), with males slightly heavier than females. Their fur is light reddish-brown, with a lighter belly and a bushy black tail that measures 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in). Dholes are distinguished from coyotes and most other canines in having more-rounded ears, fewer teeth, and distinct skull features. They communicate with a variety of sounds, including growls, howls, whistles, and screams.

Dholes are carnivores, hunting rodents, deer, antelopes, wild pigs, and sheep. Some reports suggest they can hunt larger animals such as bears and tigers. Dholes hunt primarily during the day and are known for killing and eating their prey quickly. They live and hunt in packs, which usually number from 5 to 12 individuals but may reach up to 40 when pups are present. Dhole packs are highly mobile but also territorial—each pack’s area is carefully marked with urine and feces to warn off other packs.

During the breeding season, female dholes find dens in holes or rock piles in which to raise their young. They give birth to four to six young after a gestational period of about 61 days, and both females and males care for the young. Parents are helped by other adults in the pack. Pack members will bring food to the mother and regurgitate food to the pups. Sometimes a sentry stands over the mother and her young when the rest of the pack is off on a hunt. By eight months of age, the pups are able to hunt with the other adults.

Dholes have been intensively hunted and poisoned by humans, due to the false belief that they pose a threat to humans and domesticated animals. Their survival has also been challenged by habitat destruction and the elimination of their prey. The dhole has been listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Scientific classification: The dhole belongs to the dog family, Canidae, in the order Carnivora. It is classified as Cuon alpinus.