Endangered dhole

Context

• The concerns are being raised over the endangered large carnivore, dhole, which deserves more attention.

What are its characteristics and ecological status?

• It whistles through its nose to locate other members of its pack. It also whines, screeches, and growls, but it cannot bark or howl like a dog.
• Unlike tigers, leopards, and wolves, the dhole doesn’t eye people as prey.
• The dhole is found in a wide variety of habitat types, including deciduous and evergreen forests and alpine steppeof Central and East Asia.
• The declining population trend is expected to continue, and the range of the dhole is much fragmented and reduced.
  

What are the threats?

• Habitat loss
• Hunting
• Depletion of prey base
• Persecution and possibly disease transfer from domestic and feral dogs.