A wild canid of forests in South and Southeast Asia. Adults have a reddish coat and a dark bushy tail.
The underside is pale. Newborn pups are dark brown and acquire adult coloration as they grow.
Dholes do not always travel in the same-sized groups. In eastern Java, groups of three or more and animals travelling alone or in pairs show different daily activity patterns.
Research published in 2024 analysed camera photographs and videos collected in Baluran National Park, Indonesia, over six years, from 2015 to 2020. Surveys ran from March to December each year. Records were classified as packs when at least three dholes appeared together, or when several travelled in the same direction within five minutes.
Pack activity peaked around sunrise and sunset. Singles and pairs remained more active later in the morning and had a later night-time peak than packs. Their activity extended across a broader part of the day and night. Overall, dhole activity was low at midday and peaked around 06:00 and 17:30.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
The Smithsonian’s project description identifies habitat conversion to farms and pasture, poaching of prey, hunting and disease as threats. Its Thailand collaboration studies movements and disease-transmission risks. At Natmataung National Park in Myanmar, the described project investigates livestock predation and includes community outreach and environmental education intended to reduce poaching of dhole prey.