Dhole, or Asiatic wild dog (Cuon alpinus)

Mohamed bin Zayed Species project number 13257030

 

Ecology and Conservation of Endangered Dholes in Cambodia

Dholes (Cuon alpinus) are classified as endangered, with an estimated population of < 2,500 mature individuals worldwide and still declining, although reasons for their decline are unknown.  Two important reasons likely are habitat loss and decreases in prey numbers, especially because dholes have such large area and prey requirements.  For example, dholes are thought to have the largest land requirements of any Asian species, and consequently have disappeared from more reserves in Asia than have tigers. Additionally, dholes consume more ungulates than tigers and leopards, indicating they require higher prey numbers than any other large carnivore in Asia. Furthermore, nothing is known about mortality factors in dhole populations, especially with regards to disease prevalence. Disease, probably from village dogs, may be an important factor reducing local dhole populations.

Specific objectives are to:

1) Determine the home range sizes of at least 3 packs of dholes.

2) Determine the diversity and biomass of prey consumed by dholes.

3) Determine mortality factors and disease prevalence in dholes.

4) Train park staff and local students in field research methods for monitoring dhole populations in protected areas.

5) Increase awareness of dholes by educating local staff and villagers about this species.

Research will be carried out in Mondulkiri Protection Forest (MPF; 3,630 km2) in eastern Cambodia. The core area of MPF is approximately 1,500 km2 and vegetation is dominated by deciduous dipterocarp forests interspersed with various amounts of semi-evergreen and evergreen forests.  This mosaic of forest types is biologically diverse and globally important for many endangered mammals, birds, and reptiles.  Conserving dholes within this ecoregion will ensure that all other biodiversity and ecosystem processes are conserved, especially because dholes likely have the largest land requirements of any species in the region.

We plan to capture and place GPS collars on dholes from at least 3 different packs. Data from the GPS collars will be used to determine annual home range sizes of dhole, and amount of overlap between adjacent packs. This information will be used to determine the minimum reserve size necessary to sustain a viable dhole population (objective 1). Scats (i.e., droppings) of dholes will be collected along transects throughout the study site, and dissected in a laboratory to determine diets and biomass of prey consumed by dholes. This information will be used to determine the minimum prey requirements necessary to sustain a viable dhole population (objective 2). The cause of death will be determined for any dholes collared during the study by performing necropsies on the carcasses in a laboratory. Additionally, blood samples will be collected from all captured dholes, and samples will be analyzed for disease titers. This information will be used to determine mortality factors and disease prevalence in dholes (objective 3). During the study, reserve staff will be trained in research methods for monitoring dhole populations, so that staff can continue to monitor dhole populations after the completion of the project (objective 4). Additionally, at least two Cambodian university students will be involved in the project to give them experience with conducting ecological research on dholes (objective 4). Finally, presentations about dholes will be given to park staff and local villagers to educate them about dholes, especially the importance of dholes in healthy ecosystems (objective 5).

This project has significant long-term benefits for the conservation of dholes throughout Asia.  Our results can be used by conservation organizations and government agencies to establish new reserves, or enlarge existing ones, to better ensure the future conservation of dholes and their prey.

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