"What is a dhole?" is the first question we get asked when we introduce ourselves. Almost everyone has heard of the fight to save the rhino, elephant and tiger. What if we told you that there is an animal more endangered than rhinos? That’s home range has shrunk more than the Elephants? One animal that has been rumored to be able to tree a tiger. This animal is the Dhole (Cuon alpinus). The Dhole, pronounced dole, is not a dull creature at all.
The Basics
Dhole - Cuon alpinus
Other Names: Red Dog, Indian Wild Dog, Asiatic Wild Dog, Whistling Dog or Whistling hunter are all common names for dholes.
Taxonomy: Dholes are a member of Canidae family and are cousins to wolves and African Wild Dogs.
Status: They are endangered and the population is decreasing, its thought there are only 2,500 mature adult dholes left in the wild and around 300 kept in captivity the world over.
Physical Characteristics: Dholes look similar in build to a jackal or coyote but larger in size. They can range in color from a brown tawny to a rich red. The last half of their tails are dark brown to black in color. The southern variation often has a slicker coat with shorter hair length. The northern variations tend to have a slightly longer coat, leading to the ruff found around the face. The white coloring on the face (under the jaw and chin), neck, chest and belly comes with age, yearlings and pups often lack any white on them.
- Weights: Males 15 to 21 kg; Female 10 to 17 kg
- Height: 42 to 55 cm
- Length: 80 to 113 cm or 112 to 163 cm with tail.
Northern Variation
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Southern Variation
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Fun Fact: Dholes don't howl, instead they have a whistle to communicate with one another.
Locations:
Currently Found:
Dholes are currently found in Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand; India is thought to be the last stronghold of wild dholes.
Dholes are currently found in Bhutan, India, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand; India is thought to be the last stronghold of wild dholes.
Might be found:
Dholes might be found in the following countries and if they are found they would be in small numbers. Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, the Korean peninsula, Pakistan, and Viet Nam.
Dholes might be found in the following countries and if they are found they would be in small numbers. Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, the Korean peninsula, Pakistan, and Viet Nam.
Historic Range:
Dholes use to be found in the following countries but are now considered extinct from the following countries Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
Dholes use to be found in the following countries but are now considered extinct from the following countries Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
Current Range Source: IUCN
Historical Range: Dhole Conservation Fund
Social Structure:
Average Pack or Clan size: 2 to 15 adults and pups; packs as large as 30 have been documented.
There is a breeding pair, but sometimes more than one female will breed, the whole pack helps care for pups. They are seasonal breeders only breeding once a year and the season varies based on latitude of the population. Gestation is 60 to 63 days and the average litter size is 4 to 12.
They hunt in packs and maintain a territory together, territory size is highly dependent on resources and can vary from 15 square km to 80 square km. Their prey is large to medium ungulates or hooved animals. Known prey included: Chital, Sambar, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Swamp Deer, Muntjac, Gaur, Asiatic Buffalo, Banteng, Markhor, Tahr, gorals and wild pig.
There is a breeding pair, but sometimes more than one female will breed, the whole pack helps care for pups. They are seasonal breeders only breeding once a year and the season varies based on latitude of the population. Gestation is 60 to 63 days and the average litter size is 4 to 12.
They hunt in packs and maintain a territory together, territory size is highly dependent on resources and can vary from 15 square km to 80 square km. Their prey is large to medium ungulates or hooved animals. Known prey included: Chital, Sambar, Blackbuck, Nilgai, Swamp Deer, Muntjac, Gaur, Asiatic Buffalo, Banteng, Markhor, Tahr, gorals and wild pig.
Learn more by visiting our other more in-depth pages
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Sources:
Kamler, J.F., Songsasen, N., Jenks, K., Srivathsa, A., Sheng, L. & Kunkel, K. 2015. Cuon alpinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T5953A72477893. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T5953A72477893.en. Downloaded on 06 July 2017.
Kamler, J.F., Songsasen, N., Jenks, K., Srivathsa, A., Sheng, L. & Kunkel, K. 2015. Cuon alpinus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2015: e.T5953A72477893. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T5953A72477893.en. Downloaded on 06 July 2017.
