Dhole

Cuon alpinus alpinus

### Regions

China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Mongolia, Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal

## Habitat

### Water Area

1162 m² +92 m²/ea. add'l
0 m²

### Temperature

0 m²
3‒42 ℃

## Social

### Fem. Bachelor

2‒25 (up to 25 males, up to 13 females)
2‒25
2‒25

### Sterility

2 years
10 years

### Interbirth

2 months
12 months

## Taxonomy

### Order

Mammalia
Carnivora

### Genus

Canidae
Cuon

The **Dhole** (*Cuon alpinus alpinus*) is a mid-sized Asian canine featured in the Southeast Asia Animal Pack DLC for Planet Zoo.

## Zoopedia Description

### General

Population In The Wild: 2,500

The Ussuri dhole lives in the forests, grasslands and tundra of India, Nepal, China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Thailand, and is the largest of all subspecies of dhole. The Ussuri dhole has a red coat, white underbelly and narrow muzzle. They have summer and winter coats, with the winter coat being thicker and a brighter red. The dhole has a head-body length of 35.2in-45.2in, a tail length of 16.4in-20in and a shoulder height of 18in-22in. Both sexes are similar in size, but males are significantly heavier than females, with males weighing between 33lb and 44lb and females weighing between 22lb and 28.6lb.

The dhole is an endangered species and in recent years, its range has decreased. They were hunted and had bounties put upon them in India until protective legislation was introduced in 1972. The dhole is often seen as a pest as it can and does kill livestock. Their population has also been introduced to novel diseases through domestic dogs. Additionally, deforestation has destroyed and fragmented their habitat and reduced prey availability. The dhole is now a protected species in India, Russia, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos.

### Social

Dholes are very social animals that live in family packs. In an average pack, there is an alpha male and alpha female, their young adult offspring and a litter of pups less than a year old.

### Reproduction

In a dhole pack, there is an alpha male and an alpha female and their 1st and 2nd generation offspring. Packs are familial. The alphas are monogamous and do not mate with any other individuals. As the female is approaching oestrus, the alpha male and female will bond. During oestrus, they will mate several times. After a pregnancy of 60-63 days, the female will have a litter of 2-6 pups. For the first 3 weeks of the pups' life, the mother does not leave the den. She is provided food by the pack. At 3-4 weeks, the pups start to eat solid food regurgitated by their parents and other pack members. At 6-9 weeks old, the pups are fully weaned and at 3 months old, pups are old enough to start accompanying pack members on hunts and learn how to hunt themselves. The pack will be fully mobile and go on longer hunts when the pups are 8 months old.

Young dholes stay with their parental pack until they are between 1-2 years old. They leave their pack when they reach sexual maturity or when competition for food with the pack becomes too high. They may live alone or in sibling groups for a time. Lone dholes may partner up with another lone dhole of the opposite sex and search for territory. Once located, these two dholes will start their own pack and become the alpha male and alpha female.

## Animal Care

 FEEDING STATIONS
 FOOD ENRICHMENT
Bamboo Feeder · Pinata · Dog Ball · Skittle Feeder
Ice block · Blood scent marker · Small ball · Small Ice Ball Enrichment · Small Ball Colourful · Sprinkler · Tug Rope · Bubble Machine · Water Pool · Rubber Duck

## Trivia

### Zoopedia Fun Facts

* Dholes are a ‘keystone species’, which means they are extremely important for maintaining the ecosystem in their habitat.
* Dholes do not bark or howl like other dog species, but are very vocal and often whistle to communicate.
* Dhole packs have been known to bring down prey 10 times their size.
* Dholes have different dentition to all other dog species; it is thought this may help them eat faster to prevent their kills being stolen by competitors.
* Humans who live in jungles have been known to follow dholes to track prey because they are such effective hunters.

### Other Trivia

* The Dhole is called the Ussuri Dhole in advertising, despite not being called it in-game.

## References

1. ↑ The full list of animals in the Southeast Asia Animal Pack is as follows: clouded leopard, sun bear, proboscis monkey, Ussuri dhole, Malayan tapir, North Sulawesi babirusa, binturong, and giant leaf insect.