Dhole Camera-Trapped in Ratapani Tiger Reserve
Why in the news
The first camera-trap record of a dhole in the reserve was read as a sign of better habitat and prey in Ratapani.
Key facts
- Place: Ratapani Tiger Reserve, Madhya Pradesh.
- Species: Asiatic wild dog (dhole), scientific name Cuon alpinus.
- IUCN status: Endangered (EN).
- The sighting suggests improved habitat quality and prey availability.
About the dhole
- A wild canid native to South and Southeast Asia.
- A pack-hunting apex predator that keeps herbivore numbers in check and balances the ecosystem.
Habitat and distribution
- Prefers dense forests, forest-grassland mosaics and hilly, undulating terrain with plenty of prey.
- In India it occurs in Central India, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.
Threats
- Habitat fragmentation.
- Fall in prey species.
- Diseases spread by domestic dogs.
- Human disturbance.
Exam angle
- Scientific name: Cuon alpinus; IUCN status: Endangered.
- Indian range: Central Indian forests, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats.
- Ecological role: regulates herbivore numbers.