Understanding the Role of Dholes in Assam's Ecosystem

FAQs on Dholes and Their Conservation in Assam

1. What Are Dholes and Why Are They Important?

Dholes (Cuon alpinus), also known as Asiatic wild dogs, are highly social carnivores that hunt in coordinated packs. They play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance by regulating prey populations. The species is listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule II of India’s Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

2. Where Have Dholes Been Recorded Recently in Assam?

In October 2022, camera traps captured images of a single dhole in the Amguri corridor of the Kaziranga–Karbi Anglong Landscape (KKAL), nearly three decades after the species was thought to have disappeared from the region.

3. What Is the Significance of This Recording?

This marks the first photographic evidence in decades and indicates the possible survival or return of dholes to a landscape where they were considered locally extinct. It also underscores the ecological importance of wildlife corridors in enabling animal movement between fragmented habitats.

4. What Could Explain Their Return?

Experts suggest the dholes may have dispersed from nearby populations such as Ntanki National Park in Nagaland through forest corridors in the Karbi Anglong district. Protected regions like Morat Longri Wildlife Sanctuary and northern Karbi Anglong may serve as vital “stepping stones” for their movement and recolonization.

5. What Are the Major Threats to Dholes in This Region?

• Habitat fragmentation due to deforestation and development
• Decline in prey species such as deer and wild pigs
• Retaliatory killings following livestock attacks, particularly on mithun (semi-domesticated cattle)
• Disturbances from human activities and increased vehicular traffic on highways

6. What Is the Government’s Position on Population Estimation?

Forest officials have stated that it is too early to conduct a population estimation. So far, there have been no confirmed sightings by forest personnel, though some villagers in the fringe areas have reported unverified encounters.

7. Which Other Regions in Northeast India Have Reported Dholes?

Dholes have been recorded in several northeastern states including Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram (Dampa Tiger Reserve), Meghalaya, Nagaland, Sikkim, and parts of West Bengal. In Assam, aside from the latest evidence, the last reliable record was from the Jeypore–Dihing Reserve Forest in 2010.

8. Why Is Kaziranga Not Typically Associated with Dholes?

Experts note that dholes were commonly seen in Kaziranga National Park before the 1980s. Over time, increasing vehicular activity and habitat disruption likely led to their local extinction. The recent sighting may indicate a tentative return or transient movement through the park.

9. What Steps Are Needed for Dhole Conservation in KKAL?

• Strengthening and restoring wildlife corridors
• Minimizing human–wildlife conflict through community engagement
• Implementing scientific monitoring and camera-trap surveys
• Ensuring habitat connectivity between protected and non-protected areas

10. What Does This Sighting Mean for Conservation in Assam?

The recent sighting offers hope for the revival of locally extinct species and emphasizes the importance of landscape-level conservation across the northeastern region. It reaffirms the ecological value of Assam’s forests in supporting rare, wide-ranging carnivores like the dhole.