Dholes are wild dogs, classified with Wolves, Coyotes, Jackals, and Foxes. They are unusual for dogs, in that they do not fit neatly into any of the dog subfamilies. Dholes have only 2 molars on each side of their lower jaw (as opposed to the usual 3), and females have more teats than other canid species.

The Dhole is capable of occupying a wide variety of habitats, from deciduous forests to tropical rainforests. Historically, they were found throughout East and Southern Asia, from Russia to Sumatra; however, today their range has been significantly reduced. Depending on where they live, they vary in colour (charcoal grey, rust red, or sandy beige). Like foxes, their tails are bushy, usually with a black tip. They often have a white belly, chest, and feet; however, this varies from individual to individual.

Dholes are fast runners (up to 40.39 mph or 65 km/h), excellent swimmers, and able to jump 7 feet vertically. Despite their size, as a pack they are able to fend off tigers, and take down prey over 10 times their own body weight! Dholes are efficient hunters on their own, but thrive best when part of a pack. They are highly intelligent, and have been witnessed deliberately chasing prey into water in order to slow them down. 

Dholes are social and wonderful communicators (especially whilst hunting), with a large vocal repertoire - including whistles, clucks, and high-pitched screams - not found in any other members of the canid family. The whistling sound the Dhole is known for is so distinct that it can be used to identify individual animals.

Each pack generally consists of 5-to-12 members, but members will also work and play with dholes outside of their own pack. Sometimes dhole packs join together to form super-packs of up to 30 or more individuals! They hunt, share food, and then separate again back into their original families. Hunts are normally organised, with a single lead dog in charge.

Inter-species aggression is extremely rare, because neighbouring packs tend to be related. Packs maintain a large territory, up to 34 square miles. Dhole packs normally consists of 1 dominant monogamous pair, and the entire pack will help care for and feed that pair’s pups and the mother. Once pups have matured, they join the main pack, and are allowed to eat first on kills. Once they reach 3 years of age, females will leave to join other packs. This dynamic often results in an unusual pack structure, which sometimes consists of 1 female living in a pack full of males.

Dholes are severely affected by habitat loss and fragmentation (which has also affected their food supply), disease (caught from domestic pets), and human conflict. In some areas, Dholes are deliberately trapped, poisoned, and their dens destroyed, because people consider them to be pests. Moreover, Dholes are difficult to breed in captivity, due to their naturally nervous, highly-strung, and sensitive natures. There are estimated to be only between 949 and 2215 mature Dholes living in the wild.

CAPTURE HIGHLIGHT