Wild dogs were highly populated in Odisha forests once upon a time. In the country, right from the Himalayan range to Kanyakumari, they were found in plenty. But at present, this species is getting depleted for various reasons.
The average weight of the animal is about 20kg. Males are bigger than the females. This is an animal having much similarity with common dogs and wolves. When the general appearance of the animal is like common village dogs, it is longer in size.
The muzzle of the animal is relatively shorter than the wolf. The ears are more rounded towards the tip and the tail is bushy compared to wolf and dog. It has six molar teeth in the lower jaw, where as the dogs, wolves and jackals have seven molar teeth in their lower jaws. The animal’s deep pink or orange colour makes it distinct.
In peninsular India, the colour of the animal is tawny or orange or brown, but in the Himalayan region, the animal is deep red. The species is found throughout the central and eastern Asia and chiefly in Indian and Malaysian peninsula.
Especially, in India three races of wild dogs are found, which are quite distinctive so far as their look is concerned. In tropical and sub- tropical regions, this animal likes to stay in dense forests for fear of heat from sun. It requires sufficient food, water shed and least interference from man to live. It is quite a social animal and always is found at the sites of water bodies in hot season.
Wolves and wild dogs always move on pack and hunt their prey in pack. During winter, several packs of wild dogs are seen in Similipal forests of Mayurbhanj, Rebana, Kalpat and Hadagarh forests of Keonjhar district, who are thoroughly non harmful to man.
They never come to human settlements for lifting of cattle. They usually hunt in day time and very rarely at night. During hot season, they always are noticed near water. Similipal, Rebana and Kalpat forests are full of water streams, channels, water holes and patches of savannahs where plenty of herbivores get water and food. Primarily the scent and sight of its prey help the wild dog to locate the animal.
The writer while in forest service came across more than 10 to 20 packs of wild dogs which sheltered on the bank of water bodies with absolute discipline and coordination in several forest divisions. The male member in a pack always leads the members and gives them direction. During taking food, there is absolute discipline.
There is neither any competition nor any quarrel. When a member of a group notices men or group of prey animals, it makes a whistling call to alert the wild dogs. The smaller packs always hunt. Smaller animals hunt deer of any size, but bigger pack hunts bigger animals like gaur or bison. In Himalayan area right from Tibet, ladak to Kashmir, the food habits of these animals always depend on the locality factors and availability of local animals. But in tropical lands they completely depend on deer, bison, and wild pig.
In Odisha the wild dogs are never seen attacking any carnivores but they can kill big carnivores like tiger, panther and bear. They also do not make wanton destruction of wild resources. The main breeding season of this animal is from November to December and cubs are produced from January to February. Generally four to six cubs are produced at a time.
The breeding habits of wild dogs are similar to country dogs. Several females breed in a colony and when large assemblages are formed, they break into separate packs with leaders for independent living. Within no time can a dog pack devour a full grown bison. A herd of bisons may not be afraid of a tiger or panther, but it is afraid of a pack of wild dogs.
At present, the habitat of wild dogs in Odisha has been thoroughly destroyed for mining activities. The Rebana–Kalapat forests of Keonjhar district is a glowing example. The dense ground flora and sources of water are now receding fast. So the population of this species is getting extinct very soon. The writer never heard of any complaint from the tribals of Odisha forests that the yapping dogs of jungle were harming them in any manner.
This species cannot be grown in captivity. These are very sensitive animals. For experiment, a wild dog was captured and kept in the Nandankanan zoo but it could not survive there. It is also not possible to maintain a pack of animals under captivity through stall feedings.
Generally the wild dogs are confined to watershed areas of dense peninsular forests. If the watershed areas are damaged or polluted, this species will be de-homed. This yapping animal was seen in large numbers in Tikarapara – Purunakot – Bagnamuda and adjoining areas of Dhenkanal and Hindol – Athagarh forests.
Even the Dashapala forest of Nayagarh division was once rich in population of the wild dogs. Sal and bamboo forests make ideal ground flora for peaceful existence of the yapping carnivore. In southern and western districts of Odisha, this animal is not found probably because of excessive heat. This species is not migratory in nature. So far the wildlife wing of the State Forest Department has not studied the biological aspect of this species for the academic purpose and its conservation.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)