“The Disappearing Voices”: Social and Ecological Insights into the Dhole (Cuon alpinus)

Amal U K^*, Athul U K, Bindya Liz Abraham and  Nitu Kujur

Abstract

The Dhole (Cuon alpinus Pallas, 1811) or Indian Wild Dog is a highly social canid native to Central, South and Southeast Asia. Though genetically related to Canis species, its unique morphology and cooperative behaviour justify its classification in the monotypic genus Cuon. Once widely distributed, its range has greatly declined due to habitat loss, persecution, disease and competition with other predators. Classified as Endangered by the IUCN, fewer than 2,500 individuals remain globally, with India supporting the largest surviving populations, particularly in the Western Ghats. Dholes live in diverse habitats ranging from tropical forests to alpine regions and form cohesive packs of 8–25 individuals with home ranges of 20–84 km². They are cooperative hunters, mainly preying on medium-sized ungulates like sambar (Rusa unicolor), chital (Axis axis) and wild pig (Sus scrofa). Although they share habitats with tigers and leopards, they minimize conflict through prey and temporal niche separation. As key predators, Dholes help regulate prey populations and maintain ecosystem balance. However, continued habitat fragmentation and disease transmission from domestic dogs threaten their survival, emphasizing the urgent need for focused conservation efforts.