Whistling hunters anticipating conservation attention

Asiatic Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus), which is known with different names such as Dhole, Pack hunter and Whistling hunters,  is a non-charismatic mammal from the canidae family (a family of dogs).The population of Dhole is imperiled throughout its range primarily due to anthropogenic influences, earning it a place in the IUCN Red List, but it is yet to get due attention from concerned stakeholders, pushing it further toward extinction.

Like other members of the Canidae family, these dogs prefer communal living, living and hunting in a group. These group hunting characteristics make them efficient hunters. Studies have shown that a pack of Dhole can hunt prey species nearly 10 times their size. Ungulates predominate the diet of the Dhole but, in some instances, they can hunt other animals, including the calf of elephants, as well. Furthermore, the species can live from the tropical to the alpine climate at altitudes ranging from the sea level to 5,300m. These two characteristics are sufficient to know that Dhole are highly adaptable species.  Despite this high adaptability, the global population of the Dhole is reported to be following the declining population trajectory with the current estimate of population to range between 949 and 2215 individuals.

According to an IUCN assessment, habitat destruction due to urbanization and housing; agricultural and aquaculture expansion; depletion of prey species due to illegal hunting and other anthropogenic activities; habitat degradation due to invasive species; transmittance of diseases by the feral dogs are major threats to the species. Besides, retaliatory killings have been reported from Bardia National Park and Kanchanjunga Conservation Area of Nepal.

At present, the presence of Dhole have been confirmed from 11 countries of the world while they have been extirpated from nine countries, including Afghanistan, Russia Federation, South Korea and Singapore. Besides, the presence of the species in North Korea and Pakistan are uncertain while they are supposed to be extinct from Vietnam as well.

Status in Nepal

In Nepal, the estimated population of Dhole is nearly 100, covering a wide range of habitats from tropical to alpine, their presences have been confirmed from very few locations in recent times. This includes Kanchanjunga Conservation Area and Tinjure Milke Jaljale area of Eastern Nepal, Parsa National Park and Chitwan National Park of Central Nepal and Annapurna Conservation Area, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and Bardia National Park of Western Nepal.

Additionally, there are some documents proclaiming the presence of Dhole from other areas as well. Forest Resource Assessment, 2000 mentions the presence of Dhole in Langtang National Park and DNPWC states that Dhole can be found in Khaptad National Park as well. This information needs further verification. Global Biodiversity Information Facility, which maintains the global database of species occurrence, contains a single occurrence data of Dhole from Nepal, representing the specimen collected from Nuwakot district and kept at the Field Museum of Natural History (Zoology) Mammal Collection. These indicate that Dhole occupies a wide range of habitats in Nepal as well ranging from lowland to high Himalayan region.

Most of these records of Dhole are based on anecdotal records. Discovery/rediscovery of Dhole in both Bardia National Park and Chitwan National Park were made primarily through the camera trap placed for tigers while the records in case of Parsa National Park also predominates the records based on accidental encounters. The efficiency of hunting by Dhole implies that they are an essential component of the ecosystem which can regulate trophic level dynamics. But stakeholders, including researchers and conservationists, are yet to acknowledge the importance of this species. NPWC Act is a glaring example of this: While it gives special protection to the leopard contrary to the IUCN Red List, the Act fails to recognize Dhole as an endangered species.

As their population status suggests, these dogs are more threatened than tigers in Nepal or elsewhere. Despite this, conservation intervention targeting Dhole is unheard of. This is primarily because of the lack of information about Dhole and lack of advocacy. As the studies focusing on the Dhole are limited in number and scope in Nepal, we are yet to understand the ecology of these neglected canids. 

Way forward

Investment on conservation intervention without comprehensive understanding of the ecology brings significant change. Thus, research on the population status and dynamics throughout their distribution range in Nepal is highly essential. But, as the species is a non-charismatic one, the potentiality to receive attention from the international donor agency is limited. So, the government should invest and encourage the ecological study of this species. Also, regulation and control of feral dogs and enhancement of habitat and prey condition throughout their range are vital. Otherwise, these top predators living on the brink of extinction will disappear from their habitats soon.

The author is Assistant Professor at the Department of Environmental Science, Padma Kanya Multiple Campus