The diet, prey selection, and activity of dholes (Cuon alpinus) in northern Laos

Background/Question/Methods

The dhole (Cuon alpinus), or Asiatic wild dog, is classified as endangered by the IUCN after exhibiting severe declines in their numbers and distribution during the past 50 years, and they are now extirpated in >80% of their former range. Reasons for their decline are unclear, but are thought to be related to human persecution, severe decreases in natural prey, and destruction of habitat. The current distribution of dholes is restricted primarily to South and Southeast Asia, although remaining populations are fragmented and still declining. Despite being one of the last strongholds of dholes, little information exists from Southeast Asia regarding the ecology of dholes. For example, nothing is known about prey selection by dholes in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, although such information is needed to assist conservation efforts for dholes and their prey in the region. Therefore, we used analysis of dhole scats (confirmed by DNA), estimates of prey abundance derived from occupancy sampling, and camera trap data to determine the diet, prey selection, and activity of dholes and their prey in a national protected area in northern Laos.

Results/Conclusions

Dhole diets were dominated by ungulates (87% of biomass consumed), with additional prey including other carnivores (6%) and rodents <1 kg (6%). Concerning individual prey species, only muntjac (Muntiacus, 45%) and sambar (Cervus unicolor, 33%) contributed >7% of biomass consumed. Dholes were not random in their consumption of ungulates, as muntjac (20-28 kg) and sambar (185 kg) were selectively consumed over medium-sized (75-85 kg) ungulates such as serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii) and wild pigs (Sus scrofa). Dholes were almost exclusively diurnal, and their activity pattern was significantly different (all P < 0.003) from all ungulate species except wild pigs. Overall, prey selection by dholes appeared to be more influenced by social behavior and terrain use of ungulates, rather than by body size or activity of ungulates. In tropical forests of northern Laos, dholes focused predation on relatively few species during diurnal hours, suggesting the management of muntjac and sambar may be important for conserving dhole populations in the region.