Cooperation
FOR YOUNG
A mother gives birth to four pups on average (Alderton, 1994) possibly up to twelve (Durbin, 2005), following a 63-day gestation period (Postanowicz, 2007). Dhole pups are quite helpless from birth to a few months. Deaf and blind, they need frequent milk and shared body warmth from other pups for twenty days. They cannot wag their tails and cannot expel urine or feces without their mother’s licking to stimulate the reflex. At twenty days, the pups can finally see. At one month they solicit regurgitated solid food from adults. (Alderton, 1994) (Dholes can regurgitate for pups up to twelve hours after eating when they rapidly swallow the food initially (Malcolm, 2004).) By two months, the mothers have weaned the pups (Alderton, 1994; Johnsingh, 1982). After another two months, they are capable of independence. During all this time, the mother may need to transport them between multiple dens due to fleas or predators. (Alderton, 1994)
This careful attention demands not just the mother’s constant care but other group members’ as well- to watch for the pups’ well-being. For pups have a high mortality rate due to predators, especially when cared for by a lone mother. (Johnsingh, 1982) In contrast, Vekataraman (1998) observed two breeding pairs who raised pups independently from a group. He concluded that the other adult members of a pack are not necessary for the young pups’ survival. Yet while the other adults may not be necessary, their presence is likely optimal. The entire pack regurgitates food for the pups; some guard the pups in the den while others are hunting (Alderton, 1994). See ORGANIZATION.
Venkataraman (1998) observed the presence of pups at a den between December 6 and March 5. He noted that the pups were not seen outside of the underground den until 1 month and first began hunting at 8 months. He found few differences between individuals for the number of pup-care behaviors; all members of a pack generally demonstrated cooperative care, including playing with pups and regurgitating food. (Venkataraman, 1998) Alderton (1994) observed that after at least 10 weeks, the pups leave the den area and begin to establish dominance among themselves. It should be noted that this hierarchy may begin to form earlier within the den as the stronger pups compete for the best milk. Yet one cannot find evidence to support this possibility without interrupting the den’s interior. At seven months, the young dholes begin to hunt with the pack, learning intercommunication in order to find food cooperatively. At 12 months, they are sexually mature but it is unknown when they will leave the pack. (Alderton, 1994)
It is in the best interest of the young to remain for a few breeding seasons in their natal territory because most mortality occurs as young leave. Yet their staying in turn benefits the group because they help care for the next round of high-maintenance young by regurgitating food and babysitting (Malcolm, 2004)
OTHER SOCIAL BEHAVIOR
A highly social species, dholes exhibit play behavior when not resting or engaged in other activities. They lower the front half of their body, placing the head between the paws, and wag the tail to illicit play from others. Play includes chasing, rolling, sparring, ambushing and object play (such as with a stick). Regardless of parentage, adult dholes will play with the pups. (Johnsingh, 1982)
Dholes interact much like domesticated dogs, displaying facial expressions and postures to communicate. Submissive posture involves a straight mouth, tail between legs, a lowered head with flat ears, or possibly rolling on the back. When aggressive, dholes raise the hair over their shoulders to appear larger, pull back the lips to bare their teeth and raise the tail. (Alderton, 1994) It is possible that cooperation results from the subordinate males wanting a chance at mating with the dominant female. So their appeasing the current dominant male through helping behavior with the pups (whose paternity may be uncertain anyway) and submissive gestures may bide time until they can usurp the dominant position (Venkataraman, 1998). Nevertheless, these methods of interaction reinforce the dominance hierarchy necessary to limit reproduction at least temporarily to the dominant pair, thereby increasing the odds of each group member’s survival. See MATING.
This website was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Biology 323, Animal Behavior, at Davidson College in the Spring Semester 2007.