Abstract
ABSTRACTEndangered dholes (Cuon alpinus) are restricted to small and declining populations in Southeast Asia, and little is known about how their ecology differs within the region. We used DNA‐confirmed scats and prey surveys to determine the seasonal diet and prey selection of dholes in 2 different landscapes that dominate Southeast Asia: closed evergreen forests in hilly terrain in northern Laos, and open deciduous forests in relatively flat terrain in eastern Cambodia. On both sites, muntjac (Muntiacus spp.; 20–28 kg) was the dominant prey item and was selectively consumed over other ungulates in all seasons. Our findings differ from previous conclusions, based largely on studies from India, that the preferred prey weight range of dholes was either 40–60 kg or 130–190 kg. Other important prey were sambar (Rusa unicolor) in Laos, and wild pig (Sus scrofa) and banteng (Bos javanicus) in Cambodia. Seasonal differences in overall diet occurred in Laos, but not Cambodia, primarily because of an increase in livestock consumption. The mean number of dhole scats in group defecation sites was higher in Cambodia (5.9 ± 0.5 [SE]) than Laos (2.4 ± 0.2), suggesting pack sizes were larger in Cambodia. Our results suggest that regardless of land cover type, prey diversity, or pack size, the management of muntjac will be important for conserving dhole populations in Southeast Asia. In Laos, we recommend that local villagers remove livestock from the protected area during the hot‐dry season to reduce livestock predation by dholes. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wildlife Society.
Highlights
The dhole (Cuon alpinus), or Asiatic wild dog, is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature because it has disappeared from most of its historical range, and remaining populations are fragmented and still declining (Kamler et al 2015)
Our results partially supported our first prediction, which stated that dholes would prefer small ungulates in the closed evergreen forests of Laos, similar to that reported in Malaysia (Kawanishi and Sunquist 2008)
This prediction stated that dholes would prefer larger prey in the open deciduous forests of Cambodia, similar to that reported in India, but this part of the prediction was not supported
Summary
The dhole (Cuon alpinus), or Asiatic wild dog, is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature because it has disappeared from most of its historical range, and remaining populations are fragmented and still declining (Kamler et al 2015). Researchers have attempted to determine the body mass of preferred prey of dholes based largely on previous studies of dhole diets from India (Selvan et al 2013, Hayward et al 2014). Hayward et al (2014) reviewed 24 dietary studies from 16 sites and concluded that body mass of preferred prey of dholes was 130–190 kg Taken together, it appears that dholes prefer medium (30–100 kg) and large‐sized (>100 kg) ungulates, at least based on studies predominantly from the open and seasonally dry forest ecosystems of India. Dholes occupy ecosystems that often exhibit strong seasonal differences in precipitation and temperature, which might affect consumption of prey, including livestock (Thinley et al 2011), yet the effect of different seasons on the prey selection of dholes has never been studied
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
