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DNA in Droppings Revealed Big Differences in Dhole Density

Wild dholes standing in Bandipur National Park, India
Conservation: Population & status, Management · Research: Ecology

Dholes (Cuon alpinus) lived at much higher densities in some of the forests surveyed in India’s Western Ghats than in others. In 2023, researchers estimated about 29 animals per 100 square kilometres in Nemmara, compared with around 10 in Parambikulam. They uncovered the difference by collecting droppings and using DNA to recognise individual animals.

The study monitored this endangered, pack-living wild dog at six sites between 2019 and 2023. These included the protected areas of Wayanad, Parambikulam and Periyar and neighbouring territorial forest divisions. The findings are published as a preprint and have not yet been peer reviewed.

Nemmara had the highest estimated density and Parambikulam the lowest. In Wayanad, by contrast, the population was broadly stable across surveys in 2019, 2022 and 2023. Its estimated density rose from around 16 to 19 animals per 100 square kilometres.

Recognising animals without seeing them

The researchers examined 96 SNPs, genetic markers at which variation involves a single DNA base. The combination of these markers in faecal samples allowed them to tell individuals apart and recognise when the same animal had been recorded more than once. Together with sample locations, this provided a basis for estimating how many animals used the areas, including those that had gone undetected. The team could therefore compare populations without having to see every dhole.

Fieldwork was carried out with Forest Department staff and trained volunteers. An average of 46 department personnel took part per site and survey year. Among 29 former volunteers who answered a follow-up survey, 83 percent had gone on to work or pursue higher education in wildlife-related or adjacent fields.

The researchers suggest that combining DNA analysis with local collaboration can make it easier to track dhole populations over time. The partnership provides both people for fieldwork and experience that can support further conservation work.

Sources and image credit

  1. Leveraging collaborations between researchers, wildlife managers and citizen-volunteers to monitor endangered carnivore populations across space and timePrimærkildens tilgjengelige sammendrag oppgir studieområder, metoder, rapporterte tetthetsanslag og forfatternes tolkning.
  2. Leveraging collaborations between researchers, wildlife managers and citizen-volunteers to monitor endangered carnivore populations across space and timeSekundær indeksering som gjengir sammendraget fra bioRxiv; brukt til å kontrollere sammendraget da bioRxiv-siden ikke var tilgjengelig.

Image: Dholes (Cuon alpinus), Bandipur National Park, India. Photo: Kandukuru Nagarjun / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. · CC BY 2.0 · Source

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