Animal profile

Dhole

Cuon alpinus

MammaliaTropical dry and moist deciduous forest, evergreen forest, alpine steppe and scrubEndangered

Field profile

The dhole, or Asiatic wild dog, is a reddish pack-hunting canid of Asian forests. It lives in cohesive groups that can exceed a dozen animals and hunts deer by relay pursuit. It has fewer molars than most canids and an unusual whistling contact call.

Published field notes

2024-05-23

Dhole

Dholes whistle to keep the pack together

The dhole's signature contact call is a clear, rising whistle that carries through dense forest, which is why it is sometimes called the whistling dog. It suits a hunter that pursues prey out of sight of its own pack members.

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