2026 for January 1970

A rare Asiatic Wild Dog 'Dhole', has been seen for the first time in Ratapani Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh recently.

The Asiatic wild dog, also called Dhole, is a wild Asian carnivore of the dog family (Canidae).
Scientific Name: Cuon alpinus
Other Names: Indian wild dog, whistling dog, red wolf, red dog, and mountain wolf.

They are found throughout Central, Eastern and Southeastern Asia.
In India, they are found in three clusters across India, namely the Western and Eastern Ghats, the central Indian landscape, and Northeast India.
The Western and Eastern Ghats are stronghold regions for dholes.
They inhabit dense jungles, steppes, mountains, scrub forests, and pine forests.

It is a sleek, reddish-brown, medium-sized dog.
It measures up to around 20 inches with a bushy black tail, which adds up to a foot and a half.
Males are generally more muscular than females.
Their broad head and exceptionally sharp jaws give them an iconic facial appearance, which makes their body look more aligned.
This species tends to live in groups with numbers ranging from 2-25 individuals.
They are fast runners, excellent swimmers, and impressive jumpers.
They are great communicators and use an eerie whistle to communicate with each other.

It is classified as 'Endangered' under the IUCN Red List.

Source: ETVB

Asiatic Wild Dog FAQs

Q1: What is the Asiatic wild dog commonly known as?

Ans: The Asiatic wild dog is commonly known as the dhole.

Q2: In which regions of Asia is the Asiatic wild dog found?

Ans: It is found across Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Asia.

Q3: What are the main distribution clusters of dholes in India?

Ans: The Western and Eastern Ghats, the central Indian landscape, and Northeast India.

Q4: What is the general appearance of the Asiatic wild dog?

Ans: It is a sleek, reddish-brown, medium-sized dog.

Q5: What is the IUCN Red List status of the Asiatic wild dog?

Ans: The Asiatic wild dog is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.