- New studies have revealed that the near-endangered Dhole or the Asiatic wild dogs, now exist as trace populations across the country, and are found across 68% of the landscape area in the Western Ghats.
- Despite their endangered status, they are the least studied social large carnivore. The study used signs such as scat and trail marks to detect their habitats.
- Only 2500 individuals of this species are believed to be existing worldwide. They live in packs and whistle to each other as they group to attack prey much bigger than themselves.
- They have a third of their habitat range outside national parks and protected areas. This has conservation implications as they rarely come into conflict with people, but are vulnerable to risks from feral populations of dogs and cats.
- While the populations estimate is not very high in the country, it is established that habitat connectivity is as important to these as to elephants.
- Read at: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/study-finds-large-number-of-dholes-in-western-ghats-in-karnataka/article6124794.ece
Exams Perspective:
- Dwindling Dhole Population
- Endangered species
- Feral populations
- Habitat Connectivity