FaunaHub
ENEndangeredPartial review

Dhole

Cuon alpinus

Dhole (Cuon alpinus), an Asiatic wild dog with a rusty-red coat.

Dhole (Cuon alpinus).

Image: Davidvraju, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

At a glance

IUCN category
EN · Endangered
Animal group
Mammals
Population trend
Decreasing
Last verified

Conservation overview

The dhole, or Asiatic wild dog, is a social pack-hunting canid found across parts of South, Southeast, and East Asia. It is assessed as Endangered.

Packs are highly cooperative and keep in contact with distinctive whistles.

Range & habitat

Scattered populations across South, Southeast, and East Asia.

Major threats

Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.

  • Habitat loss and fragmentation
  • Depletion of wild prey
  • Persecution and disease from domestic dogs

Why it matters

As a wide-ranging social predator, the dhole needs large, prey-rich landscapes, so its presence signals intact forest ecosystems.

Gallery

Dholes hunting cooperatively in an Indian forest.

Dholes hunting as a pack — Endangered across Asia.

Image: Dr. Raju Kasambe, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Sources

Sources for Dhole

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the dhole the same as a wolf or jackal?
No. The dhole is a distinct species (Cuon alpinus), the only member of its genus, though it belongs to the dog family.
Why is the dhole Endangered?
Published assessments cite habitat loss and fragmentation, depletion of wild prey, and persecution and disease linked to domestic dogs.

Last updated: