Dynamic Dholes: The Power of the Pack

Photo Story Published : Jun 13, 2022 Updated : Sep 29, 2023

Despite their small size, Asiatic wild dogs reign as apex predators of some forested habitats in India. Their secret is their adaptation to group living and hunting. But with so many threats looming over this wild canid, how long can it survive?

Bone-chilling yaps and squeaks cut through the cacophony of peafowls and screeching langurs. A loud splash followed by the shriek of a sambar is the last sound before an eerie silence takes over. Those who can read these jungle signs know the fate of the deer who could not escape the hungry jaws of a pack of dholes.

Once widespread across India, Asiatic wild dogs or dholes (Cuon alpinus) are now found in fragmented patches. Small populations are clustered in three landscapes — the Western Ghats, Central India, and Northeast India. Characterised by their rust-coloured fur, black tails, and rounded ears, dholes are Asia’s only pack-living wild canids that primarily inhabit forested habitats. Unlike other canids, dholes do not howl. Instead, they use a repertoire of unique vocalisations that include whistles, yaps, clucks, and more. This has earned them the name whistling dogs.

Dholes are extremely social animals and they live in packs of 2-25 members. However, a large pack of as many as 40 individuals has also been recorded. Dhole pack sizes are often subject to change as they are determined by several factors, including competition with other species and prey availability. However, one constant is that each pack has an alpha male and female who control the pack. While the alpha pair’s job is to lead the pack and reproduce, the other members focus on tasks such as hunting and raising the alpha’s cubs. Despite being the leaders, the alpha pair is never excessively aggressive towards other members. Dholes are not known to be highly territorial, and conflict with other members of their species is rare.

However, this charismatic canid is among the most threatened yet under-studied species across the world. Experts estimate that there are only approximately 900 to 2,200 breeding dholes (and 4,000-10,000 total animals) left in the wild.

One of the most striking characteristics of dholes is that they’re communal hunters, i.e., the pack hunts and feeds together. Several factors determine the size of the pack. An interesting study on dhole pack sizes in India reveals that they were affected by the presence of coexisting larger carnivores. In regions where the tiger population was high, dhole packs comprised about six individuals, whereas, in areas with low tiger numbers, packs consisted of up to 17 members. Photo: Surya Ramachandran
Cover photo: Nimit Virdi/Getty Images

Although dholes resemble foxes and wolves to some extent, they are not closely related to them. These wild dogs are not even true dogs! Due to their genetic differences, dholes are placed in their own genus called Cuon. When standing beside an Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) that weighs anywhere between 2.25 to 5.55 tonnes or an Indian gaur (Bos gaurus) that weighs 700-1,500 kilos, the dhole appears incredibly tiny. While one might think that an apex predator needs to be large to be powerful, these canids stand barely as tall as German shepherd dogs and weigh about 10-21 kilos on average. But as a team, they sure pack a punch. Photos: Phillip Ross

In contrast to the three colour cones present in the human eye (red, green, blue), deer have only two-colour cones, blue and green, and are effectively blind to red shades and hues. Ergo, the rust-coloured wild dogs are not only perfectly camouflaged in their surroundings but also invisible to their prey. This advantage, paired with the fact that dholes are communal hunters, incredibly athletic, and have an excellent communication system, keeps them at the top of their game when chasing and hunting prey. Photos: Shivang Mehta

While adult dholes usually have a reddish-brown coat, their colours are subject to change depending on the season and terrain. In winter, they sport bright rust-coloured fur that is thick and dense, whereas, in summer, their coat is shorter and darker. Dholes are extremely fond of water and often sit or play in waterbodies to cool off. They are also known to be excellent swimmers. Photo: Phillip Ross

Dholes are diurnal hunters, i.e., most of their hunting occurs during the day or in the early morning. While night hunts are rare, they may take place on full moon nights, indicating that dholes depend heavily on sight. A hunting pack can bring down prey almost ten times its size. These hunting parties employ a variety of tactics, including splitting into small scouting groups and driving their prey into the water. Unlike large feline hunters, dholes do not kill by biting the throat. Instead, they either drive their prey towards water to corner it, or hold it down and start eating it while it is still alive. Photos: Phillip Ross

Apart from unique whistles, yaps, and chatters, dholes express themselves in various ways. They often nuzzle, lick, bite, rub against, or tackle each other. While this might seem like play, it also helps them bond and communicate with each other. Photos: Shivang Mehta (top left and above left), Phillip Ross (top right), Saloni Sawant (above right)