Dholes--The Whistling Dog that No One Knows
Dhole tracks
Dholes—Asian wild dogs—are threatened with extinction. However, conservation initiatives tend to focus on more charismatic carnivores such as tigers and ignore pressing issues for the protection and management of dholes. The Conservation GIS Lab of the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park (NZP) seeks to conduct the first comprehensive conservation and ecology study of dholes, focusing on remaining populations in Thailand. The project is timely because it integrates well with NZP’s existing efforts in Thailand, such as our small carnivore conservation project at Thap Lan National Park, the Eld’s deer project in Thailand’s Western Forest Complex, and ongoing work with Thai Zoos. Funding is urgently requested for expanding our reach and initiating a multidisciplinary project addressing a species that deserves serious conservation attention. All fieldwork will be carried out with the assistance of a local ranger team. Donated funds will be used for wildlife tracking equipment, training workshops, as well as supplemental support for Thai field assistants and park rangers.
Pack of Dholes caught on camera trap at Khao Ang Rue Nai Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand
