Why in the News?
The elusive dhole (Cuon alpinus), also known as the Asiatic wild dog, has been rediscovered in Assam’s Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape (KKAL) after being thought locally extinct.
About Dhole:
- Overview: The dhole (Cuon alpinus), also known as the Asiatic wild dog, is a carnivorous mammal from the Canidae family.
- Habitat: Historically, dholes inhabited southern Russia, Central Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia but are now limited to South and Southeast Asia, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and China.
- Clusters in India: In India, dholes are found mainly in the Western and Eastern Ghats, the Central Indian Landscape, and the Northeast.
- Key States: According to a 2020 study, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh lead in dhole conservation efforts.
- Social Behaviour: Dholes live in packs of up to 30 but may also hunt solo or in pairs depending on prey availability.
- Ecological Role: As predators, dholes help regulate prey populations and maintain ecosystem balance.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
- CITES: Appendix II (not necessarily threatened with extinction but may become so if trade is not closely controlled).
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule II (considered important for conservation and are granted a high degree of protection).
Back2Basics: Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape (KKAL)
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