Title
Home range size of the dhole estimated from camera-trap
surveys
Author(s)
Srivathsa, A.; Kumar, N. S.; Karanth, K. U.
Published
2017
Publisher
Canid Biology & Conservation
Abstract
The dhole Cuon alpinus is one of the least studied large carnivores in the world. Unlike many other social canids, dholes occur at low densities in tropical forests. Furthermore, they are wary, and difficult to capture and radio-tag, thereby posing challenges in the field for tracking their movements or making behavioural observations. We conducted intensive camera-trap surveys in Nagarahole and Wayanad wildlife reserves in the Western Ghats of southern India, as part of a long-term study of tiger population dynamics. The survey duration was kept short, from 28 November 2014 to 12 January 2015 (45 days), to ensure demographic closure. Besides generating data on tigers, the surveys also yielded incidental photographic captures of dholes. In general, individual dholes cannot be uniquely identified from camera-trap photographs. But we were able to identify two individuals in a pack based on distinct markings on their pelage, enabling us to map locations of the pack during the survey period. We present here, an estimate of home-range size (~85km2) for this dhole pack from non-invasive camera-trap surveys.
Keywords
camera traps, dhole, home range, India, Western Ghats
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PUB16323