This wild dog is called the dhole, an unknown predator in the wilds of India. Wild dog with snow whistling strangely Although it looks like a fox at first glance, these creatures are actually a dhole (Cuon alpinus). Also known as Asian wild dog or Indian wild dog.
In fact, this wild dog holds a unique place in the hierarchy of predators, often hunting in packs, like its distant cousin, the gray wolf.
Also known as the Asian wild dog, dholes were once a wide-ranging wild dog that covered nearly half of the globe. Today, the dhole is an endangered species with an estimated population of less than 2,500 adults.
Despite their small size, weighing between 12 and 18kg, dholes are known for their extraordinary courage and agility, being able to take down prey much larger than themselves. These nimble creatures can even jump up to a height of more than 2 meters in the air, a remarkable feat for an animal of their size.
Unlike other wild dogs, dholes are highly social animals. They live and hunt in groups, which can have 5 to 12 members. Some observers have noted groups as large as 40 individuals, although that is rare.
Dholes are animals that live in jungles, savannas, mountains, scrub forests, and pine forests. The coat color of these Asian wild dogs can range from charcoal gray to red or brown with highlights of yellow, white, or other bright colors.
Hierarchies within the herd are usually equal, with responsibilities divided equally between males and females. These bonds help the herd to cooperate in hunting and ensure the survival of the young.
When dusk falls, these wild dogs will begin their hunt. The quiet night also vibrates with their signature whistle, an important part of the animals' communication system. Each member, guided by the whistle, has a different specific role.
Despite being a member of the canine family, dholes do not bark or howl, but they can emit the unique screams, chirps, and whistles they use to communicate and hunt.
With a coordinated attack, they can take down even a mighty sambar deer. Dholes are commonly known for taking down prey that can weigh 50 times their body weight.
Unlike most dogs, after each hunt, they will let the young in the pack eat first. They almost always avoid humans, but they are not afraid to confront dangerous animals, such as wild boar, wild buffalo or even tiger.
These wild dogs were once distributed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, but 12,000 to 18,000 years ago they were reduced to their present habitats in East and South Asia. The dhole is believed to have descended from a primitive breed of jackal found in the Pleistocene epoch, where it prowled throughout Europe, North America, and Asia.
Although there are reports of this wild dog killing tigers, at the moment we have not observed this. Despite the ability to coexist with these top carnivores, the Indian wild dog still struggles to survive in human-populated areas.
Jan Kamler from the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit at the University of Oxford told The Guardian: "I consider dhole dogs to be the most extreme of dogs due to their unique morphological and behavioral features, such as: including specialized teeth for super carnivores".
Unlike other dogs, dholes very rarely exhibit fighting behavior with their fellow canines. Dholes are carnivores. They mainly hunt ungulate mammals in packs; They are even known for their ability to eat more than 1 kg of meat in less than 4 seconds
