THE DHOLE

           Along with many other wild canids the dhole has suffered a history of prejudice.

    Only with a better understanding can we fully value these unique dogs and their

                                              integral role in the forest ecosystem.

 

The dhole or Asiatic Wild Dog (Cuon alpinus) is about the size of a border collie (12-18 kg), but looks quite different. The coat is usually a rusty red colour, but varies regionally from sandy yellow to dark grey. The dhole is a highly social and cooperative animal, living in organised packs of around 10 individuals.

Groups often contain more males than females, with usually just one breeding female. The dhole normally lives in forest habitats, but can also eke out an existence in the open steppes of Kashmir and Siberia. As the Latin name, Cuon alpinus suggests, the dhole is often found in hilly or mountainous regions.