Threats

A dhole lives for about 10 to 16 years (Postanowicz, 2007). Yet this lifespan has been shortened and there are fewer dholes overall now mainly due to distemper and rabies in India (Alderton, 1994). Karanth & Sunquist (2000) likewise noted that the small average pack size of 7 members over the course of their study was due to the great effects of disease. At times, dholes may die from mistaken poisoning (their taking wolf bait) though this cannot account for many deaths because dholes rarely scavenge. The World Conservation Union classifies the dhole as endangered for human destruction of both its habitat and its prey (Durbin, 2005; Predator). Some still wildly view the dhole as a nuisance and therefore trap and kill it (Zoological, 2007).

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This website was completed in partial fulfillment of the requirements for Biology 323, Animal Behavior, at Davidson College in the Spring Semester 2007.