Mating
Mating occurs between September and February according to Johnsingh (1982) and Alderton (1994) and between the more limited timeframe of September 15 to October 15 according to Venkataraman (1998). These differing data likely result from the difference in the region observed. Hunts occur closer to the den during these reproductive months. See THE HUNT. Restricting reproduction to only the alpha female and alpha male allows the regulation of the dhole’s pack size. Too small of a group leads to predation and the limitation of both prey size and cooperative pup-rearing roles; too large of a group stresses the hunt because ever-larger prey are needed in order to satisfy every member. (Johnsingh, 1982) The monogamous bond between the alpha female and male dholes persists through multiple seasons, often for life (Malcolm, 2004). Although extra-pair copulations may occur, they do not pose a threatening interference to the group’s order as the subordinate helpers tend to be related to one another and the alpha pair. Thus, kin selection influences the subordinate’s cooperation with the semi-enforced mating restrictions.
The alpha male does well to limit the number of offspring he fathers and to help care for his few rather than to mate with as many females as possible and not be able to help care for his offspring. Cooperative raising of the young is important for the young pups’ survival. (Malcolm, 2004) See COOPERATION.
This website was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Biology 323, Animal Behavior, at Davidson College in the Spring Semester 2007.