Page 62 - World of Animals - Issue #30

The dog that doesn’t bark

Dhole and man BELOW

Dhole attacks on humans
are very rare; the canines
Aside from hunting tactics, the dhole tend to avoid human
contact where possible
shows signs of insight and learning
As many pet owners will know, canines often show a
remarkable ability to learn and adapt their behaviours
according to their environment. While domestic dogs
developed the capability to read our body language
as a species, and show signs of learning through tricks
and commands, the dhole has also become familiar with
human behaviours and habits – and learned to stay away
from them.
In an award-winning documentary by Krupakar-Senani,
Wild Dog Diaries, a particular pack of dholes living close to
an indigenous human settlement was tracked for over 12
years, showcasing their elusive nature. As the researcher,
accompanied by a tribesman for guidance, observed
the dhole pack hunting, they noticed the wild dogs
abandoning their prey right before the kill. Confused by
© FLPA; Getty; Nature PL; Thinkstock whether he’d seen this before. With a shrug, the tribesman
this behaviour, the researcher asked his indigenous friend
stated that hunters from his community frequently
followed the dhole and stole their kills. The dhole had soon
learnt that any prey in the near vicinity of humans was not
worth hunting, and abandoned their attempts when they
sensed the humans’ presence.

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