Ambika Prasad Khatiwada
Other projects
1 Dec 2010
Ecology and Conservation of Cuon alpinus (Asiatic Wild Dog/Dhole) in Kangchenjunga Conservation Area
2 May 2012
Community Stewardship for Dhole Conservation in Kangchenjunga Conservation Area, Nepal
10 Dec 2013
Community Based Asiatic Wild Dog or Dhole (Cuon alpinus) Conservation Project in Kangchenjunga Conservation Area, Nepal
The Asiatic Wild Dog or Dhole (Cuon alpinus) is a lesser-known large canid that inhabits forest habitats of south and southeast Asia in diverse climatic conditions, from tropical heat to the alpine region. Dhole populations have disappeared from over 80% of their former range. They occur in 11 countries, with most in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Thailand. While the exact global population of the dhole remains unknown, reasonable estimates suggest 949-2215 individuals capable of reproducing remains. The population is endangered and declining, with limited conservation actions in place—a national red list of mammals estimated below 250 dholes within Nepal's Protected Area. However, there is no reliable estimate for any population, and no reliable method has been tested.
Ambika Khatiwada setting camera traps focusing on dholes in Kangchejnunga CA. ©Ambika Khatiwada.
Significant threats to dholes include persecution, habitat loss, depletion of prey base, interspecies competition, possible disease transfer from feral and domestic dogs, and limited awareness of their conservation among local and regional stakeholders. We conducted dhole studies in Kangchenjunga Conservation Area (KCA), where human persecution was high because of livestock depredation by dholes. The actions implemented in the area were a community-managed livestock insurance program, dhole diet analysis, and community awareness programs. We found that about 22% of the dhole diet was livestock. Dholes were also reported from Parsa, Chitwan, Banke, and Bardia National Parks; Annapurna, Gaurishankar Conservation Areas; Sagarmatha; Makalu Barun National Parks; and Udayapur, Ilam, Dang districts outside protected area networks. However, dholes might be in other areas too and they need to be identified for better conservation actions.
This project aims to engage local communities and conservation stakeholders for the species' long-term survival, identify dhole distribution and priority conservation areas in Nepal, raise awareness among wider audiences, develop networking among dhole researchers, and support the dhole conservation action plan process.
Header: Herders shade in high altitude at 4000m elevation. ©Ambika Khatiwada.