Guwahati, June 26: In a major boost to wildlife conservation efforts in Northeast India, researchers have documented the first camera-trap evidence of the endangered Dhole (Cuon alpinus) in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong Landscape (KKAL) of Assam—a region where the species was once believed to be locally extinct.
Published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa, the finding is part of a long-term study on wildlife corridors supported by the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The image of the elusive wild dog was captured on October 31, 2022, in the Amguri corridor—one of four vital linkages connecting Kaziranga National Park with the Karbi Anglong hills. The camera trap recorded the Dhole just 375 metres from a national highway, highlighting the precarious overlap of human infrastructure and critical wildlife habitat.
The research was led by scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India—Mujahid Ahamad, Jyotish Ranjan Deka, Priyanka Borah, Umar Saeed, Ruchi Badola, and Syed Ainul Hussain.
The Dhole, also known as the Asiatic wild dog, is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Once widespread across Asia, its population has suffered sharp declines due to habitat loss, prey depletion, and human-wildlife conflict.
“This rediscovery is a powerful reminder of how essential habitat corridors are for species survival,” said Mujahid Ahamad. “We were genuinely excited to see the Dhole—a species we thought had vanished from this region.”
The Amguri corridor, where the Dhole was photographed, lies in a mixed deciduous forest dominated by teak and bordered by human settlements. Despite increasing fragmentation, researchers believe the corridor still holds potential for supporting wildlife if ecological connectivity is maintained.
Jyotish Ranjan Deka, who has worked extensively in the landscape, described the discovery as “unexpected and encouraging.” He emphasised the need for sustained monitoring to assess long-term presence and inform conservation strategies.
KKAL, situated within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, serves as a crucial refuge and movement path for wildlife, particularly during floods. Researchers suggest that the Dhole’s presence may be supported by nearby source populations such as Nagaland’s Ntanki National Park. Fragmented forest patches in Karbi Anglong, including Morat Longri and eastern Karbi Anglong, could function as stepping stones for dispersal, maintaining metapopulation dynamics.
The team warns that without immediate conservation action, fragmented habitats and shrinking prey bases may isolate Dholes and disrupt their genetic flow. They stress the importance of identifying and protecting both source and sink populations across the broader landscape.
“The rediscovery of the Dhole is a hopeful sign,” the researchers note. “It reinforces the value of targeted conservation efforts focused on maintaining and restoring ecological corridors that enable species to survive, adapt, and thrive.”
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