Wayanad sanctuary a haven for Asiatic wild dog

The species is similar to domestic dogs in appearance and is also referred to as Dhole.
It is characterized by a distinctive red coat with a black tipped bushy tail. They are social carnivores living in packs of 3-38 adult members.
They are generally found in the deciduous, evergreen and the alpine steppes.
They are known to be the whistlers of the wood as they cannot bark or howl. They have an eerie whistle to communicate with each other. They also use a variety of other noises, including clucks and high-pitched screams that are usually not seen in canids.
Fewer than 3000 adults left in the wild, India perhaps sustains the highest number of dholes, which are widely distributed in three major landscapes- Western Ghats, Central India and Northeast India.
The species is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) of India and as endangered in the IUCN Red list of threatened species
Due to the human dominance, excessive habitat loss and declining prey base has affected their population at a mass level.

Wayanad wildlife sanctuary located in Kerala is contiguous to the protected areas of Nagarhole and Bandipur of Karnataka on the north-east and Mudumalai of Tamilnadu on the south –east.
It is an integral part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
The forest types include South Indian Moist Deciduous forests, West coast semi-evergreen forests and plantations of teak, eucalyptus and Grewelia.
It is home for elephants and tigers. Along with them it houses Gaur, Panther, Sambar deer, Spotted deer, Barking deer, Wild boar, Sloth bear, Nilgiri langur, Bonnet macaque, Common langur, Wild dog, common otter and Malabar giant squirrel.

A recent study conducted by Wildlife Institute of India and others has found that the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary, a major habitat of elephants and tigers, is also host to a good number of dholes.
The new genetic methodology estimated that the sanctuary has close to 50 dholes.

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