The howls of a dhole are enough to chill the spine of a wild boar or a sambhar deer. The dhole is a wild Asian dog with a notorious reputation of being a ruthless killer. It lives and hunts in groups of up to 20 animals.
Dholes are surprisingly small in size; they weigh between 12-18 kilograms and are smaller than medium-sized dogs. They hunt mainly during the dawn and at times in the moonlit nights. Dhole hunting parties are known to employ a variety of tactics to bring down their prey, including splitting into small scouting groups. They usually prey on mammals like wild sheep and deer, but they are also reported to attack animals as large as tigers and bears.
Dholes roam the jungles and montane forests of Central and East Asia. They are now facing massive habitat loss due to rampant deforestation.
Yet, dholes have been almost wholly ignored by conservationists, researchers and the general public.
Picture Credit : Google