Wild dogs

• Villagers in Theerthahalli taluk, Shivamogga district of Karnataka, were treated to a rare sighting of an Asiatic Wild Dog group, also known as Dholes recently.

ABOUT ASIATIC WILD DOG

• Scientific name- Cuon alpinus
• The Asiatic Wild Dog, also known as kadunai, selunai, or the red dog, is an elusive and wolf-like forest-dwelling creature that tends to avoid human contact.
• Its name ‘Seelunai’ is derived from the distinctive whistling sounds it produces.
• These creatures are known to travel in packs and are referred to as Asiatic Wild Dogs (Dhole) in English.
• Global distribution- Majorly found in the forests of central, south, and southeast Asia.
  • In India, they are found in three clusters across India namely the Western and Eastern Ghats, central Indian landscape and North East India.
• Threats– Habitat loss, prey base depletion, Persecution due to livestock predation, disease from domestic dogs etc.
• Conservation status-
  • IUCN red list– Endangered
  • CITES– Appendix II